Controversy has always dogged Salman Khan. The actor has been called everything from a spoilt brat, hot-tempered, brash and badly behaved man.

The Khan has made it to the headlines for roughing up media people, his purported underworld links, getting aggressive with his actress girlfriends -- ranging from Somy Ali to Aishwarya Rai - being involved in an alleged hit-and-run case.

And he has been found guilty of poaching.

With his second film, Sooraj Barjatya's Maine Pyaar Kiya's super success, Salman Khan shot to number one overnight. With Sooraj Barjatya's Hum Aapke Hai Koun...! and Rakesh Roshan's Karan Arjun, he was well and truly a superstar.

Yet, the actor is better known for his scandals and controversies.

In 2005, newspapers published transcripts of his purported telephone conversations with Aishwarya, in which he allegedly bragged about his underworld links. The authenticity of the tapes has not been established.

Salman was questioned by the Indian Police for suspected links with the underworld. However, Khan had also complained of receiving threatening calls from the mafia and was provided police protection.

In the early hours of September 28, 2002, Salman allegedly drove over four pavement dwellers, killing one, in a drunken haze. The actor was subsequently released on bail.

And on February 17, 2006, he was sentenced to one year in prison and a fine of Rs 5,000 for killing two blackbucks in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, in 1998. He has a month to appeal the sessions court verdict.

Rediff.com traces some of the incidents for which Salman Khan has been in the news.