Emraan Hashmi alleges religious bias by housing society

Mumbai, July 31 (PTI) Asking was he a terrorist or a
criminal, Bollywood actor Emraan Hashmi on Friday alleged he
was refused a NOC by a housing society in the posh Bandra area
to purchase a flat in the building because he was a muslim, a
charge denied by the society.

Accusing the society of "religious discrimination",
Hashmi alleged at a press conference that the Nibbana
cooperative housing society in the Pali Hill area conveyed to
him on Thursday that they cannot give the NOC even though the
purchase deal had been finalised with the seller of the flat.

The actor, who was flanked by his mentor, filmmaker
Mahesh Bhatt, claimed that he was refused the No Objection
Certificate (NOC) by the society because he is a Muslim.

"The society did not openly tell me that they declining
the NOC because I was Muslim but it is evident," he claimed.

The 34-year-old actor, also known as the "serial kisser",
has filed a complaint with State Minorities Commission, on
which it issued a notice to the society asking them to
explain.

"Am I a terrorist, have I committed a crime, I am a law
abiding citizen, why is it that you are not giving NOC," he
said, adding what sort of secularism people are talking about
when there is religious profiling in a posh area like Bandra.

However, the society secretary Captain Joy Chhetry said
Hashmi had approached them only two weeks ago and his case was
deferred because the society Chairman was out of town and
denied that the society was against Muslims.

"The actor's parents had barged into our office without
appointment demanding to know the status of their application.
We cannot give him special preference just because he is an
actor," he said. PTI