Shah Rukh's ban is unconstiutional, says Mamata's party; BCCI unhappy too

On Friday morning, actor Shah Rukh Khan was declared banned from Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium for five years. The Maharashtra Cricket Association or MCA, said the actor had to be penalized for allegedly manhandling a security guard and abusing officials who tried to stop him from walking onto the cricket grounds with his entourage on Wednesday night.

But less than an hour later, Rajiv Shukla, chairman of the IPL, made it clear that the final call would be taken by the country's top cricket body, the Board of Control for Cricket in India or (BCCI). Sources say the BCCI will intervene because as an IPL team owner, Shah Rukh cannot be denied access to the cricket grounds at the stadium. Mamata Banerjee and her party, the Trinamool Congress or TMC, have made it clear they're on the actor's team. "We love everybody, from Shah Rukh to Sachin to Sourav...But Shah Rukh is our brand ambassador...I don't want to interfere in any other state's business, I don't want what I am saying distorted, this is a sensitive matter. I will appeal, please reconsider the decision," Ms Banerjee said.

Her party was more forceful.. Kalyan Banerje said the Trinamool has taken the stand that the ban is unconstitutional. Shah Rukh is the brand ambassador for West Bengal - an honorary position he accepted in February this year.

Shah Rukh did not comment on the Wankhede Stadium controversy today. Yesterday, he was dismissive of the prospect of a ban. He said he was provoked into the fight by rude officials and guards who pushed the children who he was escorting - his daughter, Suhana was among them. Photos show her holding his arm in the middle of the brawl.

The Maharashtra Cricket Association alleges that the actor tried to force his way onto the grounds with his entourage. A security guard named Vikas Dalvi has said in a police complaint that three members of the superstar's entourage manhandled him. Separately, Nitin Dalal of the MCA has filed a complaint that alleges that the actor was drunk and abused officials and a woman. Shah Rukh said on Thursday that he was angry and not drunk. Vilasrao Deshmukh who heads the MCA, said on Friday while announcing the ban that the actor had "shown no regrets for his action and behaviour...in fact, he justified his actions of manhandling security guards and abusing MCA officials.

Other politicians batted for Shah Rukh too. Like Lalu Prasad who said the ban on the actor was all wrong and suggested that the IPL be wound up. Fellow IPL team owner and MP Vijaya Mallya said, "SRK is passionate about his team and about children...IPL has no role to play here. It is strictly between the MCA and affected person regarding the entry into Wankhede Stadium." The National Conference's Farooq Abdullah said Shah Rukh is an icon and so must be calmer.

A police complaint has been registered against the actor for voluntarily causing hurt and for criminal intimidation - because this is a non-cognizable offence, SRK as he is known cannot be arrested.

SRK did not attend Wednesday's match but arrived there later to pick up his children and their friends. In his police complaint, the security guard, Vikas Dalvi, says he saw SRK and his entourage in the players' dressing room and asked them to vacate it because it can only be used by team members. The actor and his entourage then tried to walk onto the grounds of the stadium, the guard says. Mr Dalvi says when he tried to stop them, he was told "We have bought this place...who are you to stop us?" Mr Dalvi's complaint says that three members of Shah Rukh's entourage pushed him. Unlike the MCA, he has not alleged that the actor was drunk.