Arbitrator rejects claim against M.S. Dhoni

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An arbitrator has rejected state-owned Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited demand of Rs 6.5 crore as damages from cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni for alleged breach of a contract with it.

While rejecting the Mysore Sandal Soap manufacturer KS&DL's claim, arbitrator R. Gururjan also dismissed Dhoni's counter-claim of Rs six crore as damages from the state PSU for alleged violation by some of the terms of the contract with him.

The claim and counter-claim was rejected by the arbitrator here on July 10. Dhoni had entered into a two-year contract with KS&DL for years 2007 and 2008, as per which he was to be paid Rs 70 lakh for a 10-day shooting of an endorsement for its product.

KS&DL, however, accused Dhoni of not fulfilling the requirements of the contract due to his busy schedule and claimed Rs 6.5 crore as loss of income.

In his rejoinder, Dhoni had alleged that KS&DL had violated clauses in the contract and he was paid only Rs 21 lakh and sought Rs six crore as compensation.