MS Dhoni Lord Vishnu controversial magazine cover: court in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh has issued a non-bailable warrant against Mahendra Singh Dhoni for allegedly ‘denigrating’ a Hindu god by posing as Lord Vishnu on the cover page of a magazine.Dhoni has been asked to be present in court on February 25th in the controversial cover case.The Supreme Court had earlier stayed the criminal proceedings against Dhoni and also issued notice to social activist Jayakumar Hiremath, who had filed the case against the cricketer.

MS Dhoni Lord Vishnu controversial magazine cover

In September 2015, the Supreme Court had stayed the criminal proceedings against Dhoni in the case after he said that he did not pose as god and didn’t receive any remuneration or money for the news article or for usage of his picture on the cover page of the magazine.Dhoni is currently on tour to Australia where India will play five ODIs and three T20Is against the hosts from January 12-31.

In 2015, the case shifted to the court of the additional judicial first class magistrate which issued fresh summons in November to Kalbag and Dhoni, said Gopal Rao, the advocate representing Shyamsundar.“While it is unknown if Kalbag received the summons, an acknowledgment was received from Dhoni. Since he did not appear before the court even after summoned, the court took serious view and has today issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Dhoni,” Rao told HT over phone.

“The police would have to produce Dhoni in the court on February 25,” said the lawyer.“I had gone to court as the picture hurt Hindu sentiments. After our revision petition, the court had taken up the matter. The present summons was necessitated as Dhoni never appeared before the court even after accepting the summons issued for him. The court took serious note of this and issued non-bailable warrants on him,” Sunder told TV channels in Anantapur.Dhoni’s manager, however, said that the cricketer was never served the summons.

“Mahi was never served with the summons. I am very surprised that warrants have been issued. We have referred the matter to our legal. They are taking due action to have the warrants cancelled,” Arun Pandey, Dhoni’s manager told HT on Friday.