Former India captain MS Dhoni’s long-running defamation case linked to the 2013 IPL spot-fixing and betting scandal has taken another procedural turn, with the Madras High Court directing him to deposit ₹10 lakh towards the cost of translating and transcribing key audio-visual evidence. The compact discs submitted in court reportedly contain Hindi-language news clips and televised debates that are central to the civil suit.
Justice R.N. Manjula noted that converting these recordings into official transcripts would be a “humongous” task, requiring the dedicated services of an interpreter and typist for three to four months. As the plaintiff in the case, Dhoni has been asked to bear the expense to ensure the trial can move forward.
The court has directed that the amount be deposited with the Chief Justice’s Relief Fund by March 12, 2026, failing which further progress in the 12-year-old case could be affected. The order reiterated that engaging official court interpreters was necessary given the nature of the material and earlier directions issued in October 2025.
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Dhoni filed a ₹ 100-crore defamation suit in 2014 against two media organisations, a journalist, and a retired IPS officer, alleging that defamatory statements linking him to betting and match-fixing during the controversial 2013 IPL season were made. The former India and Chennai Super Kings captain has consistently denied any involvement in the scandal, maintaining that the allegations damaged his reputation.
The prosecution on Thursday said it had issued 11 notices to the actor and politician who had filed an FIR alleging rape against actor Aditya Pancholi in 2019. However, she did not appear even once.
The court directed the police to issue a notice to her again — for the last time… pic.twitter.com/9TCnnBC43M
— IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) February 12, 2026
The case has seen repeated delays over the years due to interim applications, appeals and procedural hurdles. In 2023, a division bench convicted one of the defendants of criminal contempt over remarks made in court filings, although the Supreme Court later stayed the sentence.
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More recently, the High Court ordered that the trial commence and appointed an advocate commissioner to record Dhoni’s evidence outside the court premises, citing security concerns related to his public profile. An appeal challenging that direction was dismissed in November 2025.
The matter is scheduled for further hearing on March 12, marking another step towards resolving one of the most high-profile legal disputes involving an Indian cricket icon.
