Gangster Abu Salem's reported 'confession' during his brain-mapping and narco tests that he was given a 'supari' by actress Manisha Koirala to kill her secretary Ajit Dewani has set Bollywood and the media world abuzz.

Ajit Dewani was was killed by Salem's men. The reason given then was that Manisha had not paid up extortion money. Police, meanwhile, were tightlipped about the reported allegation that Ms Koirala had herself directed the elimination of her secretary Ajit Diwan.

According to sources in the Forensic Laboratory in Bangalore, Salem has apparently claimed that he was paid by Manisha herself to kill Dewani. In December last, Salem was sent to the Forensic Laboratory for a number of tests including lie-detection, brain-mapping, and narco-analysis.

During his narco-analysis, the don has allegedly confessed to investigators that Manisha and Dewani were in a monetary dispute and Manisha paid him a huge amount to murder Dewani.

In February, Salem had confessed to have killed Dewani before the magistrate. Dewani was killed by two of Salem's men outside his office in Oshiwara in June 2001. The alleged killers have been arrested and are facing trial. 11 witnesses have already deposed before the court.

Manisha, who is in Australia, was not available for comment.