Puri: Actor-turned-politician Hema Malini has courted controversy for visiting Shree Jagannath Temple in Odisha’s Puri town during Holi festival. A complaint has been lodged with the police terming her entry into the 12th century shrine as illegal.
Shree Jagannath Sena, a local outfit in Puri, filed a complaint at the Singhadawar Police Station accusing the BJP MP of hurting the sentiments of Hindus by visiting the temple. The outfit claimed that she had married to actor Dharmendra in accordance with Muslim tradition.
The outfit in its complaint claimed that Hema Malini and Dharmendra tied the knot on August 21, 1979 in Mumbai. Their Nikah (marriage) was solemnised by Moulana Kazi Abdulah Faizabadi for mahr Rs 1.11 lakh as per Muslim law.
Convenor of Shree Jagannath Sena said Dharmendra was already married to Prakash Kaur. Therefore, he decided to to marry Hema Malini as per Muslim custom to avoid Hindu Marriage Act 1955. Dharmendra was converted into Muslim and both got married with new names — Dilawar Khan Kewal Krishn (Dharmendra) and Ayesha Biwi R Chakravarthy (Hema Malini), he said.
Patnaik said the actor has hurt the religious sentiments of Hindu people by entering Shree Jagannath Temple.
The complainant demanded the police to serve a notice to Hema Malini for investigation under sections 298/299/300/301/302 of BNS. If the allegations were found true, the MP should be arrested.
During her recent tour of Odisha, Hema Malini had visited Puri Jagannath Temple on the auspicious occasion of Holi festival.
