In a significant development, the Jharkhand High Court has issued a notice to former Indian cricket captain MS Dhoni, concerning allegations of business misconduct by his former partners, Mihir Diwakar and Soumya Das. The high-profile case, which has captured the attention of the cricketing world, centers around the operations of Aarka Sports and Management Ltd., a venture previously associated with Dhoni.
Mihir Diwakar and Soumya Das, both directors of Aarka Sports, had partnered with Dhoni to establish cricket academies under his name across various locations. However, the relationship soured, leading Dhoni to file a criminal complaint in January this year, accusing them of continuing to leverage his name and reputation without his consent.
According to Dhoni’s legal team, after revoking their authority in 2021, the duo allegedly persisted in operating cricket academies under his brand, resulting in a claimed loss of Rs 15 crore to the cricketer. The complaint was filed in a Ranchi court, which took cognizance of the allegations.
Responding to the lower court’s decision, Diwakar and Das have approached the Jharkhand High Court, challenging the judicial magistrate’s cognizance of the case against them. The High Court’s notice to Dhoni now requires the famed cricketer to present his side of the story and address the claims made by his former associates.