The Supreme Court Monday dismissed an application by Maxim magazine editor Sunil Mehra seeking anticipatory bail in a criminal case against him for publishing an obscene morphed picture of Tamil actress Khushboo.

A vacation bench of judges Arijit Pasayat and R.V. Raveendran dismissed Mehra's appeal against an April 17 Madras High Court order rejecting his plea for anticipatory bail.

Khushboo had filed a criminal complaint against Mehra for defaming her and damaging her reputation by publishing her photographs. A case was registered against Mehra and others on the basis of this complaint.

Mehra's counsel L. Nageswara Rao submitted that the photograph was only a morphed image and the petitioner had already tendered an apology. He was ready to abide by any condition for granting anticipatory bail, counsel added.

Dismissing the appeal, the bench told counsel: "This is a blatant attempt to increase your circulation. We will not interfere with the high court order."