The Madras High Court today restrained Zee News and News Nation channels from telecasting any news linking India cricket captain MS Dhoni with the Indian Premier League (IPL) betting/fixing scam.

The interim order, effective for two weeks, was passed by Justice S Tamilvanan on a defamation suit filed by Dhoni claiming Rs 100 crore damages from the Zee Media Corporation for allegedly telecasting “malicious” news that he was involved in betting, spot and match fixing of IPL matches.

“I am of the view that there is a prima facie case and the balance of convenience is also in favour of the plaintiff.

Hence, interim injection granted for a period of two weeks,” the judge said in his order after perusing Dhoni’s affidavit.

He issued notice to defendants Zee Media Corporation Ltd, Zee News Editor and Business Head Sudhir Chaudary, IPS officer G Sampath Kumar (who initially probed the IPL betting scam) and News Nation network private limited.

Dhoni, in his suit, submitted that the defendants had been carrying highly defamatory, scandalous and libellous false reports and statements since February 11, 2014.

The first and second defendants Zee Media Corporation Ltd (Zee News) and Sudhir Chaudary, Editor and Business Head of Zee News Channel, Essel Studios, Noida, Uttar Pradesh, in collusion with the third defendant IPS officer G Sampath Kumar have been telecasting and broadcasting and posting in their websites false reports insinuating that Dhoni was involved in illegal activities of betting, match fixing and spot fixing.

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