Madras HC Directs MS Dhoni to Pay ₹10 Lakh for Transcription of CDs in Defamation Suit [Read Order]

Chennai: The Madras High Court has directed former Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni to pay ₹10,00,000 towards the cost of transcribing and translating the contents of compact discs involved in a civil suit filed by him in 2014. The order was passed by Justice Dr. R.N. Manjula on February 11, 2026, in C.S. No. 185 of 2014.

The directive follows an earlier order dated October 28, 2025, wherein the Court had directed that the Court Interpreter would undertake the task of transcribing and translating the contents of the CDs involved in the case, subject to payment of the necessary charges.

In the recent order, Justice Manjula noted that the Court Interpreter had informed the Court that the transcription and translation work constituted a humongous task requiring substantial time and resources. According to the Interpreter’s assessment, the work would require the full-time engagement of at least one Interpreter and one Typist for approximately three to four months. Given the magnitude of the task, the dedicated time commitment required from court staff, and the additional costs involved in preparing copies, the Court fixed the charges for transcription and translation at ₹10,00,000.

The Court observed that, in normal circumstances, in a suit filed by a plaintiff, it is the plaintiff who is required to undertake such work and file the documents along with the plaint. However, since the engagement of the official Court Interpreter became necessary due to the extraneous circumstances mentioned in the earlier order dated October 28, 2025, the Court held that it is obligatory on the part of the plaintiff to bear the cost of the work being carried out by the court machinery.

The payment has been directed to be made to the account of the Chief Justice Relief Fund, Madras High Court, on or before March 12, 2026. The Court has also set a deadline for the Interpreter to complete the transcription and translation work before the third week of March 2026.

The matter has been listed for further hearing on March 12, 2026.

Case Title: Mahendra Singh Dhoni v. Zee Media Corporation Limited

[Read Order]