On Wednesday afternoon, actor-turned-Member of Parliament Govinda is said to have slapped an onlooker who allegedly teased him.

The incident took place at Filmistan Studios on the stes of film Money Hai Toh Honey Hain when a young boy tried pushing a chair between Govinda's legs. Justifying his action, Govinda told Mumbai Mirror that the miscreant was trying to misbehave with the female dancers on the sets.

He says, "Yes, I slapped him. The guy was trying to get too close to the girls. I felt that I had to take a stand. I had to protect them."

No police complaint has been lodged. "I am not aware of the incident," said Congress spokesperson Sanjay Nirupam.

The actor suspects that the guy was sent from an opposition political party. He says, "Opposition parties are harassing me."

Maharashtra Minorities Front, a local organisation, has put up around 1000 banners bearing the actor-turned- politician's photograph in all parts of his constituency. The banners urge the people to inform the Front about Govinda's whereabouts. The person who gives any information about Govinda will get a prize-money of Rs 1 crore.

In 2004, Govinda made his political debut by joining the Congress party. He was thereafter elected as MP from the Virar constituency on Mumbai's northern fringe, where he spent his childhood.

He unseated four-time MP Ram Naik in the Lok Sabha elections but since then has kept a low political profile, preferring to focus on his Bollywood career.