Salman controversy sparks protests

The Salman-Aishwarya controversy sparked protests and anger at cinema halls screening his new film Maine Pyar Kyon Kiya even as the issue was once again brought up in the ongoing legislative session and an investigation ordered by the government.

In Mumbai, nearly 100 activists of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha were arrested when they staged demonstrations in front of Salman's residence in Bandra, the police said.

The workers also stormed cinema halls in some parts of the city and disrupted the shows of Salman's latest film.

In R Mall multiplex in Mulund West and Ganesh Theatre in Mulund East, Vishwa Hindu Parishad activists demonstrated and tore off Salman's posters.

Protests were also held at Globus, Gaiety and Galaxy cinema halls in Bandra where the managements had no option but to terminate the shows of Maine Pyar Kyon Kiya. In Aurangabad, the Shiv Sena halted the screening of the film that was to be launched today.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister R.R. Patil, who heads the home ministry, was compelled to assure opposition parties that he would make a detailed statement in the Assembly on Wednesday after a thorough investigation into the authenticity of the tapes.

Khan has boasted about his clout and links with the underworld during a conversation on the phone with Aishwarya four years ago, threatening her and using abusive language.

The matter came up in the assembly for a second day when Opposition members criticised those police officials who had said that the tapes were old and did not require investigation.

Patil said, "They did not tell me there was no need for investigation. I have seen the police statement on television. They have just said the case is old and that they are aware of the tapes.

Khan's brother Sohail told reporters that the tapes were fake and the voice was not that of Salman at the premiere of his film Maine Pyar on Thursday.

Meanwhile, there were talks of Aishwarya making a statement but when contacted, her secretary Hari Singh told Gulf News that she had no plans to do so and was busy with a film project.

While Thursday's reports have hardly died down, a local tabloid yesterday published more transcripts of a taped conversation between the two and this will certainly put the actor, who is already an accused in several criminal cases, in more trouble.

This time, he angrily accuses Aishwarya of having sexual relations with her co-stars and boast to her about his alleged relationship with Preity Zinta.