SRK's cigarette controversy: Police arrives at Mannat

police on Tuesday arrived at the doorsteps of the Bollywood superstar after a court issued him a summon for allegedly smoking at Jaipur’s Sawai Man Singh Stadium during one of the matches played there. 

A constable from Rajasthan police issued summon to SRK’s family members at Mannat with the help of Bandra police. Shah Rukh was not present there at the time, as he had already left for Pune for KKR’s match against DD. 

It was on April 8, during a game between Rajasthan Royals and Kolkata Knight Riders, that Shah Rukh was spotted smoking at the stadium. The very next day, Anand Singh Rathore, director of Jaipur Cricket Academy, made a written complaint with Jyoti Nagar police in whose jurisdiction the stadium is located.

In his complaint, Rathore, alleged that despite there being a ban on smoking in public places, the actor puffed away in front of thousands of cricket fans. He said his fans idolise the actor, some even modelling themselves after him. So when Shah Rukh is seen lighting up in public, it sends the wrong signal to his young fans.

Taking cognisance of the complaint under section 5/11 of Rajasthan Prohibition of Smoking Act of 2000, chief metropolitan magistrate’s court of Jaipur ordered summons to the actor, asking him to remain present for hearing of the case on May 26. 

Before delivering the notice, constable Chitar Mal, who came to Mumbai on behalf of Jyoti Nagar police in Rajasthan, said, “I have been ordered by my superior to give this summon personally to Shah Rukh. If he is not present I will give it to other family members present in the house and take their signatures.”

A team from Bandra police helped Chitar Mal reach Mannat. A heavy crowd was gathered outside, waiting to get a glimpse of Shah Rukh. There was a major traffic jam, which eased after an hour. 

Senior police inspector Abhay Shastri from Bandra said, “The Rajasthan police reached here at 3 pm and after making a diary entry on our records, we helped the constable reach Shah Rukh’s house. The summon was given to a relative as SRK was not present, and then our team came back.”

Just last week, after an alleged scuffle and exchange of words with Wankhede stadium staff and MCA officials, Shah Rukh was issued a five-year ban from entering the venue. BCCI is reviewing the issue. 

Ganguly tells why Shah Rukh Khan always gets in trouble

The Pune Warriors skipper feels the KKR co-owner's tendency to get excited leads to emotional outbursts which give him wrong headlines. 

Former India skipper Sourav Ganguly today made light of the controversies surrounding the fifth edition of IPL and also supported underfire BCCI, saying the sports body has run cricket in the "best possible way". 

IPL V has been hit by a series controversies, starting with spot-fixing allegations. Shah Rukh's ban and Luke Pomersbach's molestation episode only gave the wrong headlines to the tournament. Maken has also demanded a probe into BCCI's finances and also want the body to be put under the purview of RTI. The Sports Ministry wrote to the finance ministry seeking a probe into BCCI's financial matters. 

"BCCI has run cricket far better than others. People may criticise BCCI, but they have to give credit to the body for managing Indian cricket really well," Ganguly told a leading news channel today. 

Talking about the five-year ban KKR co-owner Shah Rukh Khan by the MCA over his alleged scuffle with a MCA official, Ganguly said, "It was a minor issue."

"My advice to Shah Rukh is to lie low for a few months. SRK tends to get excited and hyper which causes emotional outbursts. This gives him wrong headlines," he said. 

"It's difficult to ban SRK who is an IPL team owner. I don't know what happened, but such fights happen in life. At the end, banning SRK from Wankhede Stadium is as futile as banning Sachin Tendulkar for Mehboob Studios," he added.

Asked about the spot-fixing claims in IPL, Ganguly said, "Every format of the game is susceptible to such things. It depends on the individual players. I don't think franchise will ever allow such things." 

Ganguly also rubbished role of black money in IPL. "I have been involved in dealings during players' selection. No franchisee will pay you over and above the contracted amount."

Asked if BCCI should come under RTI as demanded by Sports Minister Ajay Maken, Ganguly said, "BCCI is a private body. But it runs cricket better than others sports bodies like hockey, etc. BCCI is not stupid, they work with a lot of transparency and I don't think it is the responsibility of BCCI to let people know how they run the sport." 

Asked about Ravindra Jadeja emerging as the highest paid cricketer ahead of the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag, Ganguly explained, "IPL is a perfect example of demand and supply. It depends on a player's availability. IPL payments are not as per the standard of the player. Michael Hussey is paid far less than many others."

Ganguly also didn't rule out being available as a player for the next season even though team promoter Sahara had announced he would be mentor. "I feel I can still play and contribute," said Ganguly, whose team Pune Warriors ended at the bottom of the heap in the ongoing IPL.

Asked if he would continue to play domestic cricket, Ganguly said: It depends on the way forward. "If I have to play IPL, I will continue to play domestic cricket." 

Ganguly also came out in defence of his teammate from Pune Warriors Mohnish Mishra who was shown in the TV sting operation claiming to have received much more money than the officially contracted amount. "I think Mohnish spoke out of proportion. I don't think his intentions were bad. Most of these players shown in the video also hardly played in the IPL," he said.

Did Jacqueline and Sajid had a lovers' tiff?

The director apparently had an argument with alleged sweetheart Jacqueline Fernandez after she was ruled out from 'Himmatwala' remake

Sajid Khan and Jacqueline Fernandez had a fight last week. Reason? Producer Vashu Bhagnani who is remaking the 1983 film Himmatwala with Sajid as director is not too keen on casting the latter’s rumoured ladylove in the film. As they say hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, so Jacqueline gave Sajid an earful.

Says a source, “Sajid had pitched in Jacqueline’s name in the cast. But Vashu made it extremely clear that she did not fit the role even though he was insistent. When the Sri Lankan realised what was happening, she was extremely upset. She felt Sajid could have been firmer and helped her bag a role in the project.”

Adds the source, “Sajid tried to influence Vashu and was keen to rope in Jacqueline but later realised that there could be no headway in it and gave up.”

While Ajay Devgn has been signed for the remake of the Bollywood action-drama that starred Jeetendra and Sridevi, the female cast has yet to be ascertained. Names of several Bollywood actresses as well as South ones have been thrown up though there is nothing official about it.


Says Vashu, “The remaking of Himmatwala is Sajid’s vision. He can take whoever he wants. It is his call entirely. At the moment we are still scripting and have not done any casting except for Ajay Devgn.” 

While Sajid also maintains it is not true. But the source adds, “Jacqueline has been speaking about it to those close to her.”

Jacqueline had featured in Sajid’s recent film Housefull. There has been buzz that he did not like the idea of her doing dare-bare roles due to which she had to opt out of Jannat 2. 

Courtesy: Mid-Day.com