AISHWARYA RAI - BOLLYWOOD STARS QUESTIONED OVER CRIMINAL UNDERWORLD COMMENTS

Bollywood beauty AISHWARYA RAI was questioned by police on Monday (18JUL05) over her claims fellow actor SALMAN KHAN discussed his links to underworld criminals with her during a secretly recorded phone conversation in 2001.

The BRIDE AND PREJUDICE star allowed officers in Bombay, India to tape her voice to prove it matches the speaker on the recording, after Khan's lawyers insist their client was not the man in the bugged conversation.

Indian newspaper the Hindustan Times claimed Khan had made the call to Rai, and published transcripts from the controversial discussion last week (ends15JUL05).

But Bombay commissioner AN ROY (corr) fears it will be difficult to use the tape as legal evidence in court, because it is not clear who made the recording or whether they sought court permission beforehand.

Khan told police on Sunday (17JUL05) he did not make the alleged phone call and has no connections with the criminal underworld.