SC QUASHES CASE AGAINST DHONI FOR LORD VISHNU COVER

The Supreme Court quashed on Thursday a criminal complaint lodged against former Indian team captain MS Dhoni in Andhra Pradesh for allegedly hurting religious sentiments after his picture as Lord Vishnu appeared on a magazine cover.

A bench headed by justice Dipak Misra gave similar relief to the magazine editor and noted that the offence under section 295A (hurting religious sentiments) of the IPC is not made out against them as they did not maliciously hurt the religious sentiments of the complainant.

“It would be a travesty of justice if they are prosecuted in the case,” the court said, allowing Dhoni’s petition.

The case at hand pertained to a complaint lodged against the cricketer and others at a trial court in Anantapur in Andhra Pradesh.

A non-bailable warrant was issued against him on January 9, 2016, by a court after Yerraguntla Shayamsundar filed a case against him.

The picture that appeared on the cover of the magazine’s April 2013 edition depicted Dhoni as Lord Vishnu, holding various brand items with the caption God of Big Deals.

“On a perusal of allegations mentioned in the complaint in entirety, it is discernible that the requirement for constituting an offence under section 295A of the IPC has not been made out,” SC noted in its order.

“To satisfy ourselves, we have scrutinised allegations and we have no hesitation in our mind that the allegations do not remotely constitute the offence,” the bench said.