Former Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has taken legal action against Mihir Diwakar and Soumya Vishwash of Aarka Sports and Management Limited. The lawsuit, filed in Ranchi court on January 5, alleges financial fraud exceeding INR 15 crore.
Reports indicate the dispute stems from an unmet agreement made in 2017 for a global cricket academy. Despite commitments for a franchise fee and profit sharing, the management failed to comply, prompting Dhoni to nullify the pact in 2021. Represented by Dayanand Singh of Vidhi Associates, Dhoni claimed deception and demanded redress for the alleged fraud.
“The agreement was signed between Mihir Diwakar and Soma Das of Arka Sports and Management Private Limited and Dhoni according to which the company would open cricket academies in his name and pay the franchisee fee. Dhoni then gave an authorization letter to the company. Initially, they paid for some time but after that, they stopped making any payment and also stopped giving any information about the opening of new cricket academies,” Dhoni’s advocate Dayanand Singh was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.
Advocate Simant Lohani highlighted that Aarka Sports continued establishing cricket academies worldwide using Dhoni’s name without his consent, resulting in financial losses exceeding Rs 15 crore. Despite a legal notice in 2022, the company persisted, leading to Dhoni filing a criminal case under IPC Sections 406, 420, 468, 471, and 120B.
The civil court in Ranchi commenced the case’s initial hearing, scheduled for further proceedings on January 20. Following the agreement’s termination in 2021, the academies ceased operations. Mihir Diwakar, a long-time associate of Dhoni, is reportedly linked to the matter.
Last Updated on January 5, 2024
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