India takes up Shahrukh case with US

With Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan being detained and questioned at Newark airport, India today took up the issue with the US Embassy here which said it was ascertaining details about the incident involving the "global icon" who was welcome to America.

"The matter was taken up with the US Embassy," External Affairs Ministry spokesman Vishnu Prakash said soon after the reports about detention of the actor reached here. He said the Embassy was ascertaining factual details of the incident.

Consul General of India in New York is in touch with Khan, Prakash added. US Ambassador to India Timothy J Roemer issued a separate statement, saying "We are trying to ascertain the facts of the case—to understand what took place."

Describing Shahrukh Khan as a "global icon", Roemer said "he is a very welcome guest in the United States. Many Americans love his films."

Prakash said the Consulate General of India in New York got in touch with Khan immediately upon learning that he had been taken for secondary questioning at Newark airport.

Khan said that he was all right. The Consulate offered him any assistance that he may require, the MEA spokesman said.