A Court in Anantapur issued non-bailable arrest warrant to Indian ODI & T20 skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni today 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 & asked him to appear before the court in person on February 25.

Non bailable warrant issued against cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni by Anantapur court. Dhoni needs to attend court on Feb. 25. @the_hindu

— Vijayawada Connect (@VjaConnect) January 8, 2016

The Anantapur case was filed by Yerraguntla Shyam Sunder, a local VHP leader, in March 2014 objecting to the picture in which Dhoni — in the garb of the deity — holds various products including a shoe in his hands.

“I am very happy that the court has finally taken the right stance today, that particular picture hurts hindu sentiments. Not just mine, but of several others as well. Even if he was asked to do it, he shouldn’t have gone ahead with it, considering his influential position,” told Shyam Sunder.

The High Court had also criticised the cricketer at that time. “A celebrity and a cricketer like Dhoni should know the consequences of hurting religious sentiments of people. He should have known the consequences of doing such ads. These celebrities are only signing ads without any responsibility. Their aim is to earn easy money without considering the problems it may create.”

Advocate for the petitioner (Dhoni) countered the submissions made by the prosecution, saying that he has not taken any money.