• Source:JND
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A complaint against Bollywood actress and BJP Lok Sabha MP Hema Malini's visit to the Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha, has put her at the centre of a controversy. There have been accusations that she entered the shrine "illegally."

A complaint was submitted at the Singhadawar Police Station by the temple town's local group, the Shree Jagannath Sena, alleging that the BJP legislator had offended and violated religious feelings.

According to the group, her presence at the shrine has offended Hindu emotions since she married actor Dharmendra according to Muslim custom.

Hema Malini and Dharmendra were married in Mumbai on August 21, 1979, according to the complaint. In accordance with Muslim law, Moulana Kazi Abdulah Faizabadi performed their Nikah (marriage) for a sum of Rs 1.11 lakh. It further stated that Dharmendra, who was already married to Prakash Kaur and had four children, had converted to Islam in order to bypass the 1955 Hindu Marriage Act.

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According to reports, the couple adopted new names—Hema Malini as Ayesha Biwi R Chakravarthy and Dharmendra as Dilawar Khan Kewal Krishn and later had two daughters, Esha and Ahana.

Priyadarshan Pattnaik, the leader of the Shree Jagannath Sena, stated that Malini ought to receive a notice from the police. If the accusations were proven to be accurate, he further called for Malini's arrest.

Notably, the actress visited Puri Jagannath Temple during the Holi festival on her most recent trip to Odisha.