The Supreme Court today quashed a criminal complaint lodged against former Indian cricket skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni for allegedly depicting himself as Lord Vishnu on the cover page of a business magazine.
The apex court also quashed the criminal complaint against the magazine’s Editor, saying the offence of hurting religious sentiments is not made out.
“It would be a travesty of justice if the cricketer is prosecuted as he did not do it with malicious intentions,” the SC bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra observed.
“The ingredients of the offence alleged in the criminal complaint amounting to hurting the religious feelings of the complainant are not made out,” it further observed.
The complaint against Dhoni was filed by an Andhra Pradesh resident following his depiction as Lord Vishnu by a business magazine.
Another bench of the apex court had in September last year quashed an identical complaint filed before a court in Bengaluru.
In the magazine cover that was released in 2013, Dhoni -- dressed up as Lord Vishnu -- was seen holding several objects in his hands, including a shoe.
A court in Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh had issued a non-bailable warrant against him for allegedly hurting religious sentiments.
That had prompted Dhoni to approach the Supreme Court seeking quashing of the criminal proceedings against him.
