Tape rekindles Bollywood-criminal nexus

NEW DELHI, July 15 (UPI) -- Telephone transcripts revealing the alleged links of a top Bollywood actor with the Bombay underworld has sent shockwaves across the country.

The Hindustan Times newspaper reported Friday the transcripts appeared to show actor Salman Khan boasting of his connections with underworld dons Dawood Ibrahim, Abu Salem and Chhota Shakeel. In the conversation, the voice threatened a woman, believed to be actress and former Miss World Aishwariya Rai, with dire consequences for not performing in a stage show organized by Salem.

Vilasrao Deshmukh, the chief minister of the western state of Maharashtra, has ordered a police inquiry to confirm if the voice is Khan's.

The newspaper, quoting Home Ministry sources, said a report had been sought from police in Bombay.

"If the investigation confirms that the voice is indeed Salman's, he would be questioned," the newspaper quoted a senior Home Ministry official as saying.

Bollywood, meanwhile, has backed Khan.

"I saw the news of the story on TV. Poor Salman, why is he targeted every time?" the newspaper quoted actress Shilpa Shetty as saying. "It is an old story. Why rake it up now."