Supreme court issues notice to MS Dhoni

New Delhi: The Supreme Court (SC) issued notice to ex-Indian cricketer and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. The court also stayed the Delhi High Court's arbitration process against the Amrapali group on Dhoni's petition, IANS reported.

An SC bench of Justices UU Lalit and Bela M. Trivedi said on Monday that the interest of the Amrapali home buyers has to be secured, and the erstwhile management of the Amrapali group cannot be expected to represent the cause of Amrapali in the arbitration proceedings.

The bench said that in the current circumstances, an arrangement has to be arrived at so that claims made by the homebuyers are satisfied, and thereafter, the betterment of Amrapali can be looked into and secured.

"We issue notices to two claimants of two arbitrations cases," the bench said, staying the high court's arbitration proceedings.

The arbitration case before the high court was initiated by ST Constructions against Amrapali Princely Estate Private Ltd and the Dhoni against Amrapali Homes Projects Private Ltd. Justice Veena Birbal, a former high court judge, has been appointed as sole arbitrator to adjudicate the disputes between the parties.

Counsel for home buyers informed, "Now, with the erstwhile Amrapali management behind the bars, it is not possible for the court-appointed receiver to go before the arbitrator in connection with individual claims. Today, the top court was apprised of this matter and, after hearing arguments, issued notice."

Amrapali homebuyers contend that more than Rs 42 crore has to be recovered from Dhoni, which was allegedly paid as an endorsement fee by diverting the amount deposited by them. The Supreme Court had ruled in 2019 that Amrapali had diverted Rs 42.22 crore of homebuyers' money to pay its brand ambassador Dhoni and the amount was paid to Rhiti Sports, which manages the cricketer's endorsements.