There appears to be no quick end to Indian cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s soap battle with state-owned Karnataka Soaps & Detergents Limited (KSDL).
There appears to be no quick end to Indian cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s soap battle with state-owned Karnataka Soaps & Detergents Limited (KSDL).
One-and-a-half years after Karnataka high court appointed retired high court justice R Gururajan as the arbitrator to resolve the endorsement dispute between Dhoni and KSDL on the cricketer’s alleged breach of contract, a solution continues to be elusive with KSDL demanding `5 crore in damages from the dashing batsman, also the team’s custodian.
KSDL had signed an agreement with Dhoni on January 3, 2006, to be the brand ambassador for endorsing the company’s products, including Mysore Sandal Soap, for two years.
As per the contract, Dhoni was paid `52.50 lakh. The company alleged that that he breached the contract in December 2007. According to KSDL, Dhoni allegedly attended only three days of shooting for the soap products during the two years as against 10 days (five days each year) stipulated in the contract. He also allegedly declined to extend the contract by another six months, following which KSDL was forced to serve a legal notice seeking compensation.
After several months of arguments in court, both parties agreed to an out-of-court settlement. On June 23, 2009 Justice Abdul Nazeer appointed retired justice R Gururajan as arbitrator.
Advocate Shivaprakash, representing KSDL, said, “The arbitration is at the stage of examining the evidence.” Arbitration may continue for five months, the advocate said, adding, “We invited Dhoni several times to fulfil his obligations, but he refused. He missed the dates. Because of the breach of contract, KSDL has suffered huge losses. We have paid a huge sum which Dhoni has not returned.”
Dhoni defended his stance, claiming that he had indeed turned up for the shoot, but KSDL cancelled it as their managing director was not present. They gave Dhoni another date but he had to attend a BCCI meeting on that day.
KSDL managing director DS Vishwanth ruled out withdrawing the case against Dhoni. “The state government has no intention of taking a soft stance against Dhoni. We will continue the legal battle against him,” he said.
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