Leading the charge for Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), Mahendra Singh Dhoni has got the two-time champions to a blazing start with two wins in as many games that propelled them to the top spot in the tournament's standings. While not being able to play their home games in Chennai might be a dampener, Dhoni has so far done a pretty good job in the battles he has undertaken.

As he continues to ply his trade in the IPL to help his side clinch their third title, Dhoni has undertaken another challenge off the field. The former Indian captain has filed a lawsuit against the Amrapali Group - the controversial real estate firm - for not paying his dues amounting to a staggering Rs 150 crore. 

Amrapali Group has allegedly not paid Dhoni for years for being the brand ambassador of the firm that is now caught in a financial crisis and hasn't been able to complete housing projects in various cities. Rhiti Sports, a firm that manages cricket stars including Dhoni, has filed a recovery suit in the Delhi High Court against the bankrupt realtor.

© BCCL

“They haven't given us money for branding and marketing activities,” Arun Pandey, managing director of Rhiti Sports, was quoted as saying by the Economic Times. Dhoni and Harbhajan Singh were appointed as the brand ambassadors of the Amrapali Group which had also promised to gift villas to India's 2011 World Cup-winning team.

But, neither the villas, nor majority of the housing projects undertaken by the dubious realtor were ever delivered. In 2016, the process of corporate insolvency resolution (under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code) was initiated against three Amrapali Group companies on the plea from the Bank of Baroda.

Bhai tujhe kisne bola hamme villas mil Gaye hai?thenga Mila hamme.Bawakoof banaya gaya.Hamare naam ko use karke public k paise mare Gaye hai https://t.co/ro3VZ7i3ID

— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) August 22, 2017

The move affected thousands of home buyers who targetted both Dhoni and Harbhajan for endorsing Amrapali Group. Amid a lot of backlash on the social media, Dhoni and Bhajji resigned as the company's brand ambassadors in April 2016.

Bhajji Bhai please help us by spreading #SaveAmrapaliBuyers We will be thankiful to you.@msdhoni aap ko 50,000 Families aaj kos rahee hain

— ChimeraOfAmrpliDrems (@ADVBuyers) August 22, 2017

Earlier in February, the Supreme Court had pulled up the Amrapali Group, saying it shared the concerns of home buyers and the group should consider their plight and abide by the proposal to complete the housing projects and hand them possession in accordance with the time frame. However, the real estate form is now battling financial crisis and hasn't been able to complete housing projects in various cities.

On one hand where Dhoni is seeking and could very well get his dues from the Amrapali Group, the situation for thousands of home buyers seems pretty grim. And, as soon as the news of Dhoni's lawsuit against the shady real estate firm came out in the media, the social media got flooded with messages.

While some lauded Dhoni for finally getting back at the Amrapali Group, many wondered about the plight of the home buyers duped by the real estate firm.

@msdhoni is a big man. #amrapali will pay off Dhoni. But what about the 1000s of #AmrapaliFlatBuyers whose hard earned money has been taken by the promoters with no visibility of flat deliveries ?

— Jaspreet Singh (@jaspreet20) April 12, 2018

& who is going to compensate the client trapped because of Dhoni under the hand of Amrapali Group ? https://t.co/m97Bqhmvhq

— Anil Singh (@051523750) April 12, 2018

Question is who needs to be paid first - Genuine home buyer who trusted Dhoni or Dhoni who made money out of gullible fans.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni sues Amrapali group over Rs 150 crore dueshttps://t.co/RzuiFMKfVv

— L. Acharya (@L_Acharya) April 12, 2018

Good! I will be the 1st one to sure MS Dhoni for the bloody Amrapali fraud he promoted! https://t.co/QVnk5Vylhe

— Ankur (@aSmallVice) March 4, 2018

Will @NhrcIndia also take suo moto cogniizance of deliberate hardships caused to the 30 residents, including senior citizens above 90 years of age, pregnant women and toddlers. Will @imVkohli give up Nitesh sponsorship like MS Dhoni did against Amrapali builders. @OfficeRera

— The Angry Indian (@sway_hi) March 1, 2018

"Likeability"/"adorability" of idols makes them effective influencers even if they endorse products that they are not "experts" at ex. Dhoni endorsing Amrapali; ideally Dhoni endorsing a bat brand is more believable.Agree that using "thought leaders" allows more bang for the buck

— JRamakrishna (@ramakrishna_j30) February 11, 2018

@msdhoni  dhoni dekho what you have done to buyers who trusted on your advertisements and bought house with Amrapali.
You are enjoying on buyers money and people suffering. @myogiadityanath 
vote leliyaa aapne humaraa ab ghar dilaooo.

— Brijesh Tanwar (@BrijeshTanwar6) January 19, 2018

Fraud amrapali ke mahan brand ambassder.jinki wajah se thousands of Amrapali buyers. Barbaad ho gye.

— Satish  Kumar (@SatishK55743420) December 29, 2017

M. S Dhoni partner hair Amrapali mein.  Flat buyers ke paisae khaaa gaya..

— Brijesh Tanwar (@BrijeshTanwar6) December 17, 2017

Bhai @anilsharmaamrap se ghar milne ki bhadhai....Gareeb logo ko lootna hi ata hai dhoni ko lootere Amrapali ke sath milkar...Bada khiladi hai dhoni jo gareebo ki bhavnao aur mehnat ki kamai se khelta hai...Lootera ..Sharm bhi nhi bachi ab to

— Siddharth (@Siddjin1707) November 23, 2017

Sorry Dhoni ji u r good player but we can not buy this orient water heater on u r add as already cheated by Amrapali builder whose flat booked by home buyers on u r add

— rakesharora (@rkarora2000) November 21, 2017

@GautamGambhir 4 saal ho gaye Amrapali ne flat nahin diya.Koi sunta hi nahin.Paise bhi diye.Dhoni ki photo dekh kar liya tha.aap madad karo

— ashuparmar (@parmar_ashu) October 23, 2017