The Opposition parties in Maharashtra Legislative Council on Friday demanded the immediate arrest of actor Salman Khan for his alleged connection with the underworld, saying ‘he was likely to flee the country'.

Raising the issue through a Point of Propriety, Shiv Sena legislator Pramod Navalkar said it was a very serious issue that the actor has reportedly claimed to have links with the underworld.

The actor was also "blackmailing various filmstars to make them attend the marriage reception of the daughter of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and the son of Pakistani cricketer Javed Miandad", he alleged.

"The actor was hiding at his residence on Thursday after the news was flashed in the media and is suspected to be planning to leave the country in the next few days", Navalakar said adding, "the state government should immediately initiate action and arrest the filmstar before he flees."

"The state government would be responsible if the filmstar flees the country," the Sena legislator said. State BJP chief Nitin Gadkari said the issue was very serious and has posed a big challenge to the security of the country.

Unsatisfied by the reply of the Minister of State for Home Siddhram Mhetre that Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh has already announced a probe, the Opposition urged the Council chairman Vasant Davkhare to give directions to the state government.

The chairman asked the state government to inquire into the ‘threats' made by Salman to actress Aishwarya Rai and also make a statement in the House.