SC stays a 15-day imprisonment order for a retired IPS officer Sampath Kumar in contempt of court case filed by MS Dhoni

Today (February 05, 2024), the Supreme Court (SC) of India stayed the 15-day imprisonment order for a retired IPS officer Sampath Kumar given by the Madras High Court in contempt of court case filed by Indian cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni. A two-judge bench of the SC issued notice on Kumar’s petition against the HC decision and application seeking interim belief. The bench hearing the matter consists of Justice A.S. Oka and Justice Ujjal Bhuyan. 

The matter arises from the Rs. 100 crore defamation case filed by MS Dhoni before the Madras HC against various parties including Zee Media, Kumar, and others. In these suits, the former captain of the Indian Men’s Cricket team stated that the parties' malicious statements and news reports claimed his involvement in betting and match-fixing of IPL (Indian Premier League) matches in 2013. Earlier in December 2023, the Madras HC sentenced Kumar to 15 days of imprisonment. The matter was then heard today where a two-judge bench of the SC stayed the order of Madras HC in a contempt of court case.