Thursday, October 20 2005 16:38 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Actor-MP Govinda who has been shown in a video footage with Dawood Ibrahim, today (Oct 20, 2005) denied that he had any links with the underworld don and said that he was being framed in a conspiracy by his rivals.

Claiming that he had been a victim of underworld pressure himself, Govinda said he had performed in Dubai under pressure and had been cleared by the CBI, CID and Police way back in 1989.

"A chance meeting does not mean having links (with Dawood)," Govinda said reacting to the footage telecast by sources last night.

"I am disturbed myself. An artist is just picked up and taken to perform for someone under pressure and then one is not even given money," said an anguished Govinda.

"What was more baffling was that there were upto 25 artists who had been taken to Dubai," he said.

Without questioning the authenticity of the footage, he said "What is baffling is why only my footage. Why not of others. Instead of sympathising with me, I am being framed," said the actor who represents North Mumbai in Lok Sabha.