This could be a unique way for controversy-courting Salman Khan to promote his new film, Bodyguard. Get your own bodyguards to beat up supporters of current newsmaking Gandhian, Anna Hazare. As the story goes, Salman Khan who was recently in Kanpur to promote his film was approached by some excited fans. All the young enthusiasts from IIT Kanpur wanted was his autograph and his support for Anna Hazare's cause.

But instead, the actors bodyguards beat up the young man and chased the others away, even before they could come in contact with the actor.

"Omendra (Bharat) tried to approach his car. Before we knew, Salman's bodyguard, Shera, along with another security guard physically hauled up Omendra and gave him such a hard blow on his chest that Omendra almost fainted," relates Shubham Srivastava, fellow student and activist, to TOI.

Omendra Bharat is an IIT-K almuni and founder of Bharat Punar Nirman Dal. "I am shocked at how Salman Khan could direct his bodyguards to assault Anna's supporters. I only wanted to present him with a Gandhi topi in a peaceful manner and enlist his support for the cause," Omendra said after he recovered from the attack.

The group has filed a police complaint in Kakadeo police station in Kanpur and are seeking further investigation into the matter.