The Madras High Court has ordered former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni to pay INR 10 lakh for the transcription and translation of materials related to his defamation lawsuit against retired IPS officer G. Sampathkumar. Dhoni is seeking INR 100 crore in damages, claiming that Sampathkumar improperly connected him to the 2013 Indian Premier League (IPL) betting scandal. Justice R.N. Manjula issued this order on February 11.
The judge noted that based on a previous directive from October 28, 2025, the court’s official interpreter was assigned to transcribe and translate various CDs related to the case. However, this task was contingent upon payment for the work.
The court acknowledged that the interpreter’s work was substantial and would take considerable time—approximately three to four months, requiring at least one interpreter and a typist. As a result, the total cost was set at INR 10 lakh to cover the extensive work and additional expenses for preparing copies.
Justice Manjula also stated that in civil cases, it is generally the plaintiff’s duty to manage such tasks and submit necessary documents. Since the appointment of the official interpreter was based on specific circumstances from the earlier order, it is the plaintiff’s responsibility to cover these costs.
The court has directed the interpreter to complete the transcription and translation by the third week of March 2026. Dhoni must deposit the INR 10 lakh into the Chief Justice’s Relief Fund of the Madras High Court by March 12, 2026. The case will be reviewed again on March 12.
Recently, Dhoni was last seen playing against the Gujarat Titans (GT) during IPL 2025 and is currently getting ready for IPL 2026, which is expected to start in the last week of March.
