Mumbai, Aug 10 - As he awaits the verdict of State Minorities Commission (SMC) on his complaint against a south Mumbai housing society, Bollywood star Emraan Hashmi says he know religious profiling is practised by people in more than one community. Emraan has complained he was not allowed to buy a house in the society because he is a Muslim.

'The problem of being denied property on grounds of religion is prevalent all over the country. Now so many Muslims have come forward claiming the same. And mind you, I know religious profiling works both ways.

'I know of Muslim colonies where Hindus are not allowed to stay. I spoke out as a segregated citizen, not a Muslim.I want all discrimination in property allotment to go. Otherwise why do we call ourselves a democracy?' Emraan told IANS.

The actor alleged he was denied permission to buy a house in the upmarket Pali Hill area of Mumbai because he was Muslim. Pali Hill's Nibbana Cooperative Society, he said, refused to give him a 'no-objection certificate'. He filed a complaint with the SMC, demanding action against the society members. The society reportedly has mostly Hindus and a couple of Catholic families.

There were more developments in the case Sunday, when a Mumbai resident accused Emraan and film director Mahesh Bhatt of 'fomenting communal tensions to gain cheap publicity'. The two had held a press conference to highlight the complaint.

Emraan has been forced to beef up his security.

'He moves around with a lot of securitymen. It's a precautionary measure. His house is looking like a fortress,' said a source close to the actor.

'The complaint doesn't deter Emraan at all. It's an age-old ploy to silence you.