Mumbai: Stepping up its demand for arrest of Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt, the Shiv Sena-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) combine Opposition in Maharashtra created ruckus in the state legislature over the actor's alleged taped conversation with underworld don Chhota Shakeel.

The issue caused three adjournments in the Lower House while the Upper House was adjourned twice followed by a walk-out by Sena-BJP members.

In the Assembly, BJP group leader Gopinath Munde raised the issue during Zero Hour, though the Speaker Arun Gujrathi had rejected an adjournment notice in this regard. "Why is Dutt, an accused in bomb blast case, roaming scot-free even after his taped conversation with underworld has been made public in court during Bharat Shah case," he asked.

He also questioned the timing of release of Sanjay's taped conversation with Shakeel to the media.

Strongly supporting Munde, Opposition leader Narayan Rane said that the issue should be taken up since it concerns national security.

Angry Opposition members then stormed into the Well, displaying banners "deshdrohi Sanjay ko giraftar karo" ("arrest Sanjay Dutt, the traitor").

The Chair's appeals for restoring peace fell on deaf ears forcing him to adjourn the House for 10 minutes. As the din continued, House witnessed two more adjournments. Opposition members raised slogans against Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, who also holds Home portfolio.

Bhujbal said that it was the then Home Minister Gopinath Munde, who had released Sanjay from TADA cases. But Munde said that it was the TADA court that had set the Bollywood star free.

PTI