SC dismisses complaint against Dhoni for hurting religious sentiments
A bench headed by Justice Ranjan Gogoi granted relief to Dhoni after observing that a Karnataka trial court had not followed the due procedure of law in summoning Dhoni.
"We interfere with the order of the High Court and quash the proceedings including the summoning order against the accused... we have taken note of the complaint and the offence alleged while passing this order," the bench said.
In an article, titled 'The God of Big Deals,' an edition of the Business Today magazine had in April 2013 shown Dhoni as Lord Vishnu holding, among other things, a shoe.
On Jayakuamar Hiremath filed a case in Bengaluru against Dhoni and the publisher and editor of the magazine alleging that they had insulted the Hindu religion.
Also in Andhra Pradesh, a petition was filed by a Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader and a court issued a non-bailable warrant against the cricketer.
Dhoni then moved the Supreme Court seeking that criminal proceedings against him be quashed.
When the case was taken up in the Karnataka High Court, it criticised Dhoni and said celebrities often sign ads for money without caring for consequences.
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