Rape remark: Salman refuses to apologise
Salman Khan, who is riding high on the success of his film Sultan, has reportedly refused to apologise for his offensive "raped woman" comment, despite being hounded by the National Commission for Women (NCW) as well as the Maharashtra State Commission for Women (MSCW).
The bachelor actor today skipped personal appearance for the third time before the MSCW, but sent a letter to the panel in response to the summons issued to him over his ‘rape’ remarks, reports The Indian Express.
However the Economic Times report says that Salman has questioned NCW's jurisdiction over such cases. Although NCW can investigate and interrogate people, it has no power to take any criminal action.
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The MSCW, which had asked Salman to appear before it on Thursday, said they are consulting their legal department regarding the actor’s letter.
“We have received the letter. We are studying it now. We have sent it to our legal department and will decide the future course of action,” MSCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar told reporters.
Rahatkar, however, did not reveal the contents of the letter or if any action will be taken by the MSCW regarding the controversy.
Khan had recently landed himself in controversy for his statement that he felt like a “raped woman” after the grueling shoot for his film “Sultan”, in which he plays a wrestler.
The 50-year-old actor was asked to come for hearing on two previous occasions, but he did not turn up. Subsequently, he was asked to appear before the commission today.
Read more: India uproar over Salman Khan 'raped woman' comment
Earlier, when the commission sent the first summon to the actor, Salman had sent a letter to the panel through his lawyer stating that the case was already being heard by the NCW and the matter cannot be heard simultaneously at two places.
Later, Salman had on July 8 defied the National Commission for Women’s summons and did not appear before it to clarify his controversial remark, a day after he missed a date with the Maharashtra women’s panel.
The Maharashtra state commission had then asked the actor to appear before it.