Relief for MS Dhoni, SC stays criminal proceedings in Lord Vishnu cover row

In a major relief for Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the Supreme Court on Friday stayed the criminal proceedings against him in his case of allegedly 'denigrating' a Hindu god by posing as Lord Vishnu on the cover page of a magazine.

Dhoni has also sought the transfer of the case against him from Anantapur to Bengaluru and the apex court has issued a notice on the same.

The interim relief comes after a court in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh had issued a non-bailable warrant against the cricketer.

In September last year, the Supreme Court had stayed the criminal proceedings against Dhoni and also issued a notice to social activist Jayakumar Hiremath, who had filed the case against the cricketer.

Dhoni had earlier approached the apex court seeking quashing of a criminal case against him in the Karnataka High Court for allegedly outraging religious sentiments for his portrayal of Lord Vishnu on a magazine cover.

The Karnataka High Court, however, refused to quash the case, prompting Dhoni to file an appeal in the apex court.

ANI