NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday stayed criminal proceedings against India Today group head Aroon Purie, which was initiated against him for publishing a cover photo in Business Today in 2013 showing Indian cricket team captain M S Dhoni as Lord Vishnu.

Agreeing to hear Purie's plea, a bench of Justices J S Khehar and N V Ramana directed additional chief metropolitan magistrate of Bengaluru not to proceed in the case filed by a VHP leader for allegedly hurting religious sentiments.