Vivek has still not complained to police about Salman

MUMBAI: Actor Vivek Oberoi failed to lodge a police complaint one day after he publicly alleged on Tuesday that fellow star Salman Khan had threatened life.
An officer from Juhu police station said on Wednesday that no complaint had been filed against Salman. “Vivek has made these allegations to the media,’’ the officer said. “We cannot take cognisance of such allegations.He has to give us the complaint in writing.’’
On Tuesday,Oberoi told reporters that he would lodge a complaint and initiate legal action against Khan. But people close to Oberoi said that his father, Suresh Oberoi, had prevailed upon the actor not to approach the police. The senior Oberoi apparently wants the matter to be resolved amicably, it is learnt.
However, Suresh Oberoi told TNN that his son would not have called the media if he had not been questioned about his tiff with Khan at the Coca-Cola press conference on Tuesday morning.
“Vivek did not want to use the Coke platform to answer this query, so he called mediapersons later to clarify his stand,’’ he said.
The film industry, though unwilling to go on record, is supportive of Oberoi. “Salman is losing sympathy in the industry because of his temperamental nature,’’ said an industry insider.
People in the industry lauded the fact that someone has finally dared to speak out against Khan’s alleged misbehaviour. Still, “many feel that Vivek should not have approached the media’’, said a producer. “Instead, he should have lodged a police complaint and let the law take its own course.’’
Many industrywallahs also backed Oberoi’s public statement about Khan needing psychiatric treatment. “People have been talking about it for years now, but finally someone has dared to say it openly,’’ said a director, on condition of anonymity.
He said that instead of taking it as an insult, Khan’s family should take it as ‘positive criticism’ and do something about it. Film industry sources point out that Khan’s career is currently at a low.
He has not had a major hits since ‘Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam’ four years ago. The actor is currently working in three films with relatively unknown producers. The brightest spot in his career appears to be his lead role in a Hollywood production ‘Marigold’.
Although Oberoi has not lodged a police complaint, senior criminal law counsel P.R. Vakil said that threatening to kill somebody amounts to criminal intimidation, which is a serious cognisable and non-bailable offence under the Indian Penal Code.
This is punishable with up to seven years imprisonment. “Even if Vivek does not file a police complaint, the police are empowered suo motu to inquire into the matter and can even call Salman for interrogation,’’Mr Vakil said.