A non-bailable warrant has been issued against Mahendra Singh Dhoni in a local court in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh today for a morphed picture of India's limited-overs' captain that appeared on the cover of a magazine in April 2013.

The picture, which depicted Dhoni as a Hindu deity, headlined 'God of big deals', shows him endorsing a variety of products, including a shoe.

Local Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Shyam Sunder filed the petition after he found the portrayal of Dhoni as the deity hurtful to Hindu sentiments.

"I had gone to court as the picture hurt Hindu sentiments," Sunder told TV channels in Anantapur.

The court has asked the Indian skipper to appear for hearing before February 25, 2016.

Dhoni, who stays in Australia for the limited-overs tour until January 31, will also be leading the side as they host Sri Lanka for a three-T20 series soon after their return. Team India is also scheduled to travel to Bangladesh for Asia Cup T20 before the ICC World Twenty20 in India in March.

Dhoni's management has, however, steered clear of the controversy, maintaining that the Indian skipper had nothing to do with the picture.