Harda (MP): The case against superstar Amitabh Bachchan by the UP government, accusing him of evading stamp duty of just Rs 695, is ridiculous and an attempt to defame Indian art and culture, Samajwadi Party General Secretary Amar Singh said here today.

"Amitabh is a personality who can pay Rs six lakhs. Rs 600 is nothing for him. Registration of such a case against megastar like him is ridiculous and an attempt to defame Indian art," he said. The Barabanki district authorities yesterday issued a notice to the superstar accusing him of undervaluing the stamp duty on a plot of land he bought in the area.

Additional District Magistrate (Finance) of Barabanki Shirish Dubey said that the cost of the land purchased by Amitabh was Rs 843,639 but it was shown as Rs 6,000 less and accordingly the actor paid Rs 695 less in stamp duty. Amar Singh, along with MPs Jaya Bachchan and Jayaprada, has arrived here to campaign for the party candidate ahead of the Betul Lok Sabha bypoll.

The party MLA from Multai in Betul district Dr Suneelam is the SP candidate for the bypoll, in which the BJP has fielded Hemant Khandelwal, whose father s death necessitated the by-poll. Congress has fielded sitting MLA from Masod Sukhdeo Panse. When asked whether Amitabh is being troubled at the behest of Gandhi family, he avoided a direct reply on the issue. Even Jaya Bachchan refused to comment.

Source : PTI