Introduction:

The Delhi High Court is set to hear a defamation suit filed by Mihir Diwakar and his wife against cricketer MS Dhoni, seeking to restrain him from making allegedly defamatory statements. The suit involves accusations of illegal gain amounting to Rs. 15 crores against the Diwakars. Dhoni’s former business partner claims that these allegations are baseless, malicious, and intended to cause irreparable harm. The suit names major platforms like Meta, Google, YouTube, and media houses as defendants.

Arguments of Both Sides:

Diwakar’s counsel argued for an injunction order, asserting its validity even in sub judice cases. On the other hand, Advocate Siddhant Kumar, representing a media house, contended that the suit isn’t maintainable, citing precedents. He argued that media reporting is protected under the exception to Section 499 of the Indian Penal Code, as it covered proceedings related to the pending criminal case in Ranchi. Dhoni had filed a criminal complaint against Diwakar, which remains pending.

Court’s Judgement:

The Delhi High Court, under Justice Prathiba M Singh, scheduled the defamation suit for hearing on January 29. The court will consider Diwakars’ plea for an injunction against Dhoni’s alleged defamatory statements. The case also involves intricate details surrounding the revocation of an authorization letter for MS Dhoni Cricket Academy and raises concerns about the impact on the Diwakars’ reputation.