Madras High Court Upholds MS Dhoni’s Interrogatories in Defamation Suit Against Zee Media
In a recent development, the Madras High Court has dismissed Zee Media’s appeal against a single judge’s order, which had rejected the media house’s challenge to the interrogatories raised by former Indian cricket team captain, MS Dhoni. The defamation suit stems from alleged malicious statements and news reports by Zee Media, which claimed Dhoni’s involvement in betting and match-fixing during IPL matches in 2013.
The Division Bench, comprising Justice R Mahadevan and Justice Mohammed Shaffiq, emphasized the importance of interrogatories, stating,
“For understanding the case of the opposite party and to strengthen their own case, a party will send interrogatories to the opposite party. Of course, the interrogatories should be used liberally whenever it can shorten the litigation and serve the interest of justice. Power of interrogatories is not to be confined to narrow technical limits but to be exercised liberally to achieve the end of shortening litigation, reduction of expenses, and serve the ends of justice.”
The court further highlighted that interrogatories provide parties with a “right to information” from their adversaries, which can expedite the trial process.
Dhoni had initiated a defamation suit against Zee Media, IPS officer Sampath Kumar, and others, seeking to restrain them from publishing defamatory statements related to the alleged IPL betting scam. Following an interim injunction granted by the High Court, which prohibited Zee, Kumar, and others from making defamatory remarks against Dhoni, Zee and the other defendants submitted their written statements. Dhoni, in response, filed an application alleging that Kumar had continued to make defamatory statements in his written submissions. As a result, Dhoni sought the court’s permission to initiate contempt of court proceedings against Kumar.
Furthermore, Dhoni had approached the High Court with a set of 17 interrogatories directed at Zee Media, asserting that the media company’s written statement was
“generalized and did not contain specific responses towards the allegation raised.”
This plea was approved by a single judge.
Zee Media, in its appeal, argued that the single judge had permitted the interrogatories without considering factors like unreasonableness, vexatiousness, and oppression. They also contended that the interrogatories were more akin to cross-examination and were not relevant to the issues outlined in the suit. However, Dhoni countered by stating that the interrogatories were closely related to the dispute and that the answers would facilitate a more effective adjudication of the parties’ rights.
Concluding the matter, the court observed,
“Considering the materials placed on record in the case on hand and the findings rendered above, we concur with the specific finding given by the learned Judge that the details/material facts required in the interrogatories are not dealt with in the written statement and further, no ground has been made out by the appellant for setting aside the impugned order. In such view of the matter, interrogatories have to be necessarily answered by the appellant/first defendant.”
