Star India and Navjot Sidhu dispute over 22.5-cr commentary deal goes to court

Commenatator Navjot Singh Sidhu

Star India channel has alleged that despite being bound by an exclusivity clause, commentator Navjot Singh Sidhu worked for Star India's competitor. The three-year commercial deal, to the tune of Rs 22.5 crore, has now gone into arbitration, according to MidDay.

Bombay High Court Justice R D Dhanuka appointed Mumbai-based Advocate Zal Andhyarujina as the sole arbitrator, accepting the plea that proceedings be initiated for breach of contract. Star India are seeking damages and a refund of fees paid to Sidhu.

The deal said that Sidhu would provide not less than 150 days of commentary for the first calendar year of the agreement and not less than 180 days for the subsequent calendar years. They paid him advance fees of Rs 8 crore.

Sidhu failed to meet his commitments and worked for its competitor, Sony, for IPL 2014.

The order said, "Since the respondent has not nominated any arbitrator within 30 days from the date of receipt of the said notice, present application filed under section 11(6) of the Arbitration and Conciliation Act is maintainable."

Sources said that Star India had invested its time, money and man-hours of its various personnel in order to build Sidhu as its principal Hindi commentator for Star Sports. They said the premium for his fees was largely derived from the fact that he would be exclusive to the channel.

Sidhu had not lived up to what his employers had asked of him, and moreover had not responded when Star India had sent him the original notice.