Monday, August 14 2006 10:51 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Union Minister of State for Home Manik Rao Gavit yesterday (Aug 13, 2006) denied having spoken to an alleged mafia don in Uttar Pradesh to help solve a dispute over a land of his son-in-law.

"I can say with 101 percent certainty that the voice is not that of mine. I have nothing to do with mafia. I have not even seen Bulandshahar (in UP)", said Gavit while reacting to ZEE News television channel's airing a purported telephonic conversation between him and Sundar Bhati, an alleged mafia, seeking the latter's help to solve a reported dispute over land of his son-in-law.

The Minister said his son-in-law did not have any land dispute nor does he know Bhati.

Meanwhile, BJP parliamentary spokesman V K Malhotra said his party would raise the issue in Parliament today (Aug 14, 2006).