Zee Media prays High Court to vacate interim stay issued on Dhoni's complaint

Says its actions are oriented towards cleaning up public life and to bring transparency in the conduct of public figures

Zee Media Corporation, which runs Zee News Channel, has prayed the Madras High Court to vacate the order of interim injunction issued restraining the company and News Nation Network, which telecasts News Nation Channel, from publishing any news on Indian cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, related to betting and match-fixing.

In a counter affidavited, the media house has said that its actions are oriented towards cleaning up public life and to bring transparency in the conduct of public figures. "The Supreme Court is also seized of the matter and therefore the continuation of the order of injunction will result in irreparable injury to the defendant (Zee Media Corporation) and to public circumstance," it said.

On March 18, the high court has granted an interim injunction of two weeks, restraining Zee Media Corporation Ltd and News Nation Network from publishing any news on Indian cricket team captain Mahenda Singh Dhoni pertaining to betting and match-fixing.

The order was related to a petition filed by Dhoni against Zee News, its editor and business head Sudhir Chaudhary, Indian Police Service officer G Sampath Kumar and News Nation Network. The petition also sought Rs 100 crore in damages.

On February 10, retired judge Mukul Mudgal had filed to the apex court a report on allegations of betting and spot-fixing in Indian Premier League matches. Subsequently, Zee News reported Dhoni was involved in a betting and fixing scandal.

In his petition, Dhoni urged the court to issue a permanent injunction, restraining the media groups concerned, their associates or any other person or entity in print or electronic media or the internet from publishing or telecasting matter directly or indirectly pertaining to the alleged report of the company.

The petition said since February 11, 2014, Zee News, Chaudhary and Kumar had been broadcasting and hosting on their website false news reports that indicated Dhoni was involved in betting, match fixing and spot-fixing.