MS Dhoni Faces Non Bailable Warrant Issued by Local Court in Andhra Pradesh

India’s limited overs cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni found himself in a spot of bother on Friday after a Non Bailable Warrant was issued against him for failing to appear before a local court here in a case against him for hurting religious sentiments.

Dhoni, who is currently in Australia for an ODI and Twenty20 series from January 12 to 31, has been asked to be present in the court on February 25 for the hearing of the case filed by VHP activist Y Shyamsunder.

The Indian ODI and Twenty20 captain has been accused of hurting religious sentiments by appearing as Lord Vishnu on a magazine cover photograph which depicted him holding several things including a shoe.

Dhoni has been accused of ignoring summons from the local court here, an allegation that the star cricketer’s lawyer Rajneesh Chopra denied.

Chopra insisted that the Non Bailable Warrant issued against the wicketkeeper-batsman was “erroneous”.

“Mahendra Singh Dhoni has utmost respect for the judiciary but the fact of the matter is that he has personally never received any summons with respect to the present case; therefore the order appears to be erroneous,” Dhoni’s lawyer Chopra said in a statement issued by Rhiti Sports, the company managing Dhoni.

“Even as such, proceedings in a similar matter pending before the Hon’ble District Court of Bengaluru, Karnataka has already been stayed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India. In this matter, accordingly we will approach the courts and seek appropriate directions thereto,” he added.