Actress Shilpa Shetty has issued a legal notice to a city tabloid for publishing a ‘defamatory' and ‘damaging' article connecting her with alleged extortionist Fazalur Rehman and has demanded an immediate apology.

In the notice, Shetty has alleged that the article of August 8 had been published without proper investigation and done to ‘increase the sale of the newspaper and for publicity'.

The article states that police were likely to question Shetty and her parents for allegedly asking Rehman to make extortion calls to a Surat businessman.

"You have taken the judiciary in your own hand and passed derogatory remarks and statements. My client is not party to the case, but the article published by you shows as if my client is guilty and is a criminal," the notice served by Shetty's lawyer Rohini Vakil said.

The notice demanded that the tabloid tender an apology within seven days from the receipt of the notice, failing which Shetty would be forced to take legal action.