Celebrities craving publicity are often hated for creating needless controversies. But here is another breed on the flipside that is equally weird and works the other way round. Taking the celebrities to task and dragging them to court is perhaps their short cut to instant limelight.

While the spot-fixing controversy is yet to show any signs of abating, and he faces fresh charges of conflict of interest, a motley group of men, claiming to be members of Viswa Hindu Parishad, filed a petition against Indian cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni in an Ananthapur court on Monday. They demanded action against Dhoni and the editor of a business news magazine for what they call “hurting the sentiments of Hindus”. The reason for their grouse is the cover of the magazine, Business Today, that featured Dhoni in the incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

The image shows the India skipper-wicketkeeper as Lord Vishnu but with footwear, potato chips, soft drinks, cellphone handsets and sundry other products he endorses in his hands. This seems to have angered these VHP leaders no end. According to the petitioners, acts like these are part of a deep-rooted “conspiracy” aimed at defaming their religion in the country.

Radhakrisha, a VHP leader in Ananthapur, held Dhoni equally responsible for the cover image and  demanded action against the cricketer for allowing the magazine to print in such a controversial manner.

The saffron fledglings claimed that the court has admitted their petition. It remains to be seen whether the petition moves the mountains or ends up backfiring in the court.