A local court in Andhra Pradesh on Friday issued a non-bailable warrant against MS Dhoni for being seen on the cover of the business magazine 'Business Today' as Lord Vishnu. 

The Anatapur court has also asked MS Dhoni to appear in the court before February 25.

Dhoni is currently in Australia where India will play a ODI and T20 series against the world champions.

Earlier The Hindu reported that the court in Anantapur issued summons to Dhoni in October 2015 hearing a petition filed by Vishwa Hindu Parishad which claimed that Dhoni had hurt the sentiment of Hindus. 

This comes after the Supreme Court in September 2015 had stayed criminal proceedings against the cricketer on this issue. The apex court had then dismissed the complaints of him insulting Hindu religious sentiments, after the Karnataka High Court took cognizance of one of the complaints and initiated proceedings under Section 295 A of the Indian Penal Code.

 "I haven't received any remuneration/goodwill or money for the news article or for usage of my picture on the cover page or anywhere else. Neither have I posed for the picture which was published in the magazine on April 14, 2013," Dhoni had told the Karnataka High Court.

There were several similar complaints lodged from some parts of the country including Andhra Pradesh following the publication of the advertisement.