Publicist for cine stars claims he has received threat calls

Nagpur, July 18 (UNI) Dale Bhagwagar, publicist for Bollywood stars like Shilpa Shetty, has alleged he had received a threat to his life for speaking out against the alleged misbehaviour of film journalist Subhash K Jha, and said he would file a complaint with the police here later today.

Mr Bhagwagar, while talking to UNI, claimed he had received a threatening call from a ''private number'' from an unidentified person last night asking him to ''refrain from discussing'' Mr Jha in the media. The caller warned him of ''dire consequences'' if he did not refrain from doing so, Mr Bhagwagar claimed.

''I later received a call from a former crime reporter, who is a friend of mine, saying my life was in danger. My friend told me that two goons were being sent from Bihar to cause me harm,'' Mr Bhagwagar, who is currently in Nagpur, told UNI.

He said he would file a complaint with the police here later in the day. He would file another police complaint when he returned to Mumbai, Mr Bhagwagar said.

In a statement released over the Internet, Mr Bhagwagar claimed he was being threatened for speaking to the media ''frankly and openly'' about the ongoing controversy regarding singer Sonu Nigam's allegations against Mr Jha.

Mr Nigam had alleged that Mr Jha had asked for homosexual favours in return for positive write-ups in influential news publications, Mr Bhagwagar said.

Mr Bhagwagar, who also handles publicity for actors Hrithik Roshan, Esha Deol and Shiney Ahuja, hails from Nagpur and is currently on a visit to the city.

UNI