Mihir Diwakar and Soumya Vishwas of Aarka Sports and Management have been taken to the court by MS Dhoniย
Cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni has initiated legal action in the Ranchi court against two officials of Aarka Sports and Management Limited, alleging fraudulent activities amounting to over Rs 15 crore.
Who are Mihir Diwakar and Soumya Vishwas of Aarka Sports and Management who MS Dhoni has filed a case against over cricket academies
The individuals named in the lawsuit are Mihir Diwakar and Soumya Vishwas. Back in 2017, Dhoni had entered into an agreement with Aarka Sports regarding the establishment of a global-level cricket academy.
MS Dhoni has filed a criminal case against former business partners for defrauding him of 15cr.
MS signed a deal with partners to open cricket academies across the world in his name, but the agreements were not honoured. (TOI). pic.twitter.com/uVWeQmo1V0
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 5, 2024
Dhoni Filed Lawsuit
When the company failed to fulfill its obligations as per the agreement, Dhoni issued multiple notices. However, with no response received, he terminated the rights granted to the company.
The 2017 agreement stipulated that Aarka Sports, in running the cricket academy, was obligated to pay a franchise fee and share profits with Dhoni.
Allegedly, these terms were not honored, resulting in substantial financial losses for Dhoni, as claimed by his representative, Dayanand Singh of Vidhi Associates.
Dhoni Sent Notices
In response to Aarka Sportsโ non-compliance, Dhoni sent a notice on August 15, 2021, ultimately revoking the rights granted to the company. Despite subsequent legal notices, there was no resolution.
Simant Lohani, known as Chittu and a friend of Dhoni, also lodged a complaint, asserting that he faced threats from Mihir Diwakar after taking legal action against Aarka Sports.
What Exactly Happened?
Reportedly, Diwakar had signed a deal with Dhoni in 2017 to establish cricket academies using the cricketerโs name in India and abroad. However, according to the complaint, Diwakar failed to adhere to the conditions specified in the agreement.
Aarka Sports was supposed to pay the franchise fee and share profits as per the agreement, but all terms were allegedly violated.
Despite the revocation of authority on August 15, 2021, Aarka Sports continued establishing cricket academies and sport complexes in Dhoniโs name without sharing information or making payments, according to Dhoniโs lawyer, Dayanand Singh.
Through legal representation, Dhoni claims that the firmโs actions breached the agreement norms, resulting in a loss exceeding Rs 15 crore.
The sports firmโs website, featuring a prominent photo of MS Dhoni, asserts specialization in athlete and player management, along with offering top-class consultancy.
Mihir Diwakar is identified as the managing editor, and the website indicates Dhoniโs role as a mentor in the company.