Daijiworld Media Network
New Delhi, Oct 20: With the kind of fan frenzy following Indian movie legend Amitabh Bachchan, one would not expect him to fall into trouble of any serious nature, that too of a criminal kind.
But a US-based group 'Sikhs For Justice' has accused the superstar of abetting the riots against Sikhs in 1984, alleging that he gave a call for 'blood for blood' after Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's assassination. The group has filed a criminal complaint against Bachchan in this regard in Australia, where he is at the moment shooting for Hollywood movie 'The Great Gatsby'.
In the complaint with the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions, SFJ has said that the complaint is on behalf of the widows, victims, and survivors of November 1984 anti-Sikh attacks.
National 1984 Victims Justice and Welfare Society and All India Sikh Students Federation have also joined the SFJ in the complaint.
Bachchan has been bestowed an honorary degree from Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane and will receive it during his stay in Australia.
Australia's Criminal Code Act 1995 gives Australian courts jurisdiction in cases involving crimes against humanity whether or not the offence was committed in Australia, said SFJ legal advisor Gurpatwant Singh Pannun.
Under this Act, the mere presence of a foreigner in Australia is sufficient basis for jurisdiction over acts of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity committed abroad, Pannun said.
If proved guilty, the superstar may be in for some trouble. Incidentally, his mother Teji Bacchan was from a Sikh family.