Attack aimed to intimidate Mahesh Bhatt: RR Patil

The Deputy Chief Minister said he had spoken to Bhatt after the incident and the latter appeared normal.

The recent firing incident at film maker Mahesh Bhatt's office was aimed at "intimidating" him and was not an attempt on his life, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister RR Patil said in Mumbai on Tuesday.

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"If the attackers wanted to kill Bhatt, they would have attacked when he was present in the office. They merely came and fired at the floor", Patil, who also holds the Home portfolio, told reporters at Mantralaya.

Patil said he had spoken to Bhatt after the incident and the latter "appeared normal".

Asked about gangster Ravi Poojary charging Bhatt with underworld connections, Patil said "there is no basis for doubting Bhatt's secular and patriotic credentials, especially not based on what a gangster has to say".

Asked about some TV channels telecasting a phone conversation with Poojary, Patil said "media should refrain from showing some thing which will incite fear among viewers".