HC issues non-bailable warrant against MS Dhoni for controversial Advertisement

Indian ODI captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni had drawn a lot of flak for appearing as Lord Vishnu in an advertisement published on the cover of Business Today, back in 2013. The Anantapur High Court has now issued a non-bailable warrant against MS Dhoni, based on a complaint lodged by VHP leader Shyam Sunder.

“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.

However, one fails to understand how Dhoni is a responsible party in the particular case apart from the circuitous relation of having starred in multiple advertisements that were covered by the Business Today feature.

In a separate incident in 2013, Bangalore-based RTI activist Jayakumar Hiremath also had filed a case against Dhoni and five editors of the magazine for “hurting the sentiments of the Hindu community”. The case was registered under section 295 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code.

"These celebrities are only signing ads without any responsibility. Their aim is to earn easy money without considering the problems it may create," the High Court had said in a statement back then.

MS Dhoni is currently in Australia for the upcoming ODI series, and he is yet to publish any official reaction to this new development. The cricket star will have to appear in the court before February 25, in order to avoid being arrested.

“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, was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.