india

Updated: Jun 24, 2014 23:55 IST

A local court in Andhra Pradesh Tuesday issued a bailable summons warrant against cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni in connection to a complaint objecting to his portrayal as Hindu god Mahavishnu on the cover of the April 2013 edition of Business Today magazine.



Yerraguntla Shyam Sunder, a VHP leader in Anantapur town, had filed the petition in March this year objecting to the picture in which Dhoni -- in the garb of the deity -- holds various products including a shoe in his hands. The sub title read “God of big deals”. The petitioner pointed to this as hurting Hindu sentiments.

“The court’s move was necessitated as Dhoni did not accept the summons sent previously. These warrants are only to make him accept and appear before the court,” Gopal Rao, the advocate representing Yerraguntla Shyam Sunder, told HT over the phone from Anantapur.

If Dhoni once again refuses to appear before the court, it could lead to the issuing of a non-bailable arrest warrant, Rao said. He added that Business Today is being represented by its advocate before the court.