MS Dhoni Defamation Case: Madras HC Sentences IPS Officer to 15 Days Imprisonment

The Madras High Court on Friday sentenced IPS officer G Sampath Kumar to 15 days’ imprisonment in a contempt of court case initiated by former Indian cricket team captain M S Dhoni.

A division bench comprising Justices S S Sundar and Sunder Mohan, however, suspended the operation of the sentence for 30 days, allowing Sampath Kumar to file an appeal against the sentence.

The contempt of court case was filed by the ace cricketer, alleging that the IPS officer had made contumacious remarks against the Supreme Court and the High Court. Dhoni sought punitive action against Sampath Kumar for the remarks made in his counter affidavit, responding to a defamation suit filed in 2014.

The suit, seeking Rs 100 crore in damages, was filed due to Dhoni being implicated in the Indian Premier League (IPL) betting scam.