Now a 'fatwa' against MNIK

Kolkata, Feb 12 (IANS) Coinciding with his troubles with the Shiv Sena, Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan now courts problems on another front, with a Muslim cleric issuing a fatwa Friday seeking a boycott of his latest film 'My Name is Khan'.

Syed Noor-ur-Rehman Barkati, the Shahi Imam of Tipu Sultan Mosque in Kolkata, issued the edict against Shah Rukh for endorsing the products of a company owned by Ashok Todi - the father-in-law of graphic designer Rizwanur Rahman, who died under mysterious circumstances barely a month after marrying Todi's daughter Priyanka.

'He has lots of money. Why is he becoming the brand ambassador of a company owned by such a controversial man? I am issuing a fatwa to all Hindus and Muslims to boycott the movie,' Barkati said at a media meet here.

The death of Rizwanur, whose body was found Sep 21, 2007 along the railway tracks at Patipukur near the city's suburb of Dum Dum, sparked outrage following allegations that Todi had influenced several police officers to bring pressure on the youth to opt out of the marriage.

Several police officers, including the city police commissioner, were later removed from their posts for their alleged role in Rizwanur's death. Todi, two of his relatives and four senior city police officers were among those later charge sheeted for allegedly abetting Rizwan's suicide.