Activists of the ruling Samajwadi Party (SP), protesting across Uttar Pradesh Monday against an income tax notice Amitabh Bachchan has reportedly received, turned violent in Bollywood superstar's hometown Allahabad.

Samajwadi Party (SP) activists, wearing black sunglasses, took to streets here Monday to protest a reported notice by the income tax department to Bollywood actor over an alleged purchase of a costly pair of shades.

Nearly 200 activists of Uttar Pradesh's ruling party gathered outside the state assembly complex here and burnt the effigies of Prime Minister Manmohan singh and United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi, whom they blamed for what they termed as "hounding of Bachchan by income tax officials."

Bachchan enjoys close proximity with Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav as well as SP general secretary Amar Singh.

Reacting to media reports about the income tax department serving him a notice for purchasing a pair of sunglasses worth Rs.270,000, Bachchan in a statement issued Sunday termed the story ridiculous. The department too has denied sending him any such notice.

However, what really provoked protests in parts of Uttar Pradesh was the rumour that the income tax authorities were after Bachchan simply because of his close association with Amar Singh and the ruling party.

In Allahabad, the superstar's hometown, SP activists turned violent and nearly stormed the income tax office. Pelting the office building with stones, they left a large number of windowpanes smashed and even caused injuries to about a dozen people.

Police personnel reportedly remained mute spectators while the SP activists indulged in vandalism. However, subsequent intervention by senior income tax officials compelled police to file complaints against 60 people.

In Lucknow, the demonstration outside the IT office building remained peaceful as the protesters confined themselves to raising slogans like "Sonia Gandhi murdabad" (down with Sonia Gandhi) and "Manmohan Singh murdabad" (down with Manmohan Singh).

They threatened to extend their protest to the entire state if the authorities did not stop Bachchan's "harassment".

"Enough is enough and we will not tolerate any further harassment of our idol Amitabh Bachchan," said Samajwadi Party leader Mujibur Rehman'Babloo', who led the demonstration.