Ranchi: Former Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has filed a criminal case in Ranchi court against two former cricketers, Mihir Diwakar and Soumya Biswas, for allegedly cheating him in a cricket academy deal. Dhoni has accused them of fraud and breach of contract and claimed a loss of Rs 17 crore.
Dhoni had signed an agreement with Arka Sports Management Ltd., a company owned by Diwakar and Biswas, in 2017 to open a cricket academy under his name in various cities. The agreement stipulated that Arka Sports would share the franchise fees and profits with Dhoni, and follow certain quality standards and guidelines.
However, Dhoni alleged that Arka Sports failed to honor the agreement and did not pay him his dues. He also alleged that the company did not maintain the quality and reputation of the academy, and violated the terms and conditions of the contract. Dhoni had revoked the authority letter given to Arka Sports on 15 August 2021, and sent several legal notices to the company, but did not receive any response.
Dhoni, who retired from international cricket in 2020, said that he had trusted Diwakar and Biswas, who were his former teammates and friends, and had invested his time and money in the academy project. He said that he was disappointed and hurt by their actions, and decided to take legal action against them. He has sought compensation for the loss and damage caused by Arka Sports, and also demanded an apology from the company.
The case is expected to be heard by the Ranchi court soon. Diwakar and Biswas have not issued any statement on the matter so far.
