Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt today denied the charges levelled against him by Miraj Shaikh regarding his marriage to Manyata.

Miraj Shaikh has lodged a complaint saying Manyata has not obtained divorce from him and so continues to be his wife legally.

Manyata, therefore, cannot marry any other person without first obtaining the divorce, Shaikh has said in his complaint.

Arguing before city civil and sessions judge S N Sardesai, Dutt's counsel Rizwan Merchant today contended that the private complaint filed by Shaikh in a local Bandra court is baseless.

He contended that the local court had exceeded its jurisdiction and issued a bailable warrant against the actor.

This is a matter of civil nature and, therefore, no process can be initiated under the criminal law, he contended.

Mr Merchant contended that the main motive behind the complaint was to tarnish the actor's image in the eyes of the public.

On April 12, the local court had issued summons to Dutt and Manyata to appear before it on April 14. The summons were subsequently stayed by the sessions court. The arguments remained inconclusive and have been deferred till May 6.

Shaikh, incidentally, had been arrested by the police in an extortion case. He is, at present, languishing in a jail and had filed the complaint from the prison.