Jul 9, (Mid-day): Actor Salman Khan has filed a complaint with the Cyber Crime Cell saying a morphed image is being circulated via social networking sites to harm his reputation.

The message accompanying the image, which is a morphed version of a screen grab of a Hindi news channel, claims the actor has said that he does not need the support of Muslims to make his movie, Bajrangi Bhaijaan, a hit.

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According to the police officials, one of Salman Khan’s managers approached the South Mumbai-based Cyber Cell and handed over an application on Monday. In it, the actor reportedly says that he has not made any such remarks and that the image and the message could harm his reputation.

Officials said some of the staff members associated with Bajrangi Bhaijaan had come across the message on WhatsApp and they had forwarded it to Khan. The investigators believe that the image was circulated in light of the spat between All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen Chief Asaduddin Owaisi and Khan last year.

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The Hyderabad MP had appealed to his supporters to refrain from watching Khan’s movies. The Cyber Crime officials have taken cognisance of the complaint and are investigating to figure out where the message originated. However, an FIR is yet to be registered and the police say that will be done when more progress is made in the investigation.

Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) KMM Prasanna said, “We have received an application from Khan which has been forwarded to Cyber Crime Cell. The actor thought that the morphed image would malign his reputation in society due to which he decided to take the help of the police.

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The cyber cell is investigating the matter and will decide whether or not to register an FIR.” Salman Khan’s manager, Reshma Shetty, refused to comment on the issue.