Mumbai, Apr 25: The clamour for ban on skimpily-clad cheerleaders in IPL cricket matches spread to West Bengal today after Maharashtra set the tone while they have been allowed to perform in Mumbai if there is no vulgar display.

With he US-style cheergirls coming under the scanner for any obscenity they however had something to cheer when Union Information and Broadcasting minister P R Dasmunshi and Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh played down the raging controversy over their shows. Deshmukh said the matter is being blown out of proportion.

Police said the dancing beauties will not be banned in Mumbai but cannot wear obscene dress and warned of action against the organisers if their shows are found to be vulgar. Any wardrobe malfunction will be also death with sternly, it said. Navi Mumbai will host a IPL match on April 27.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil indicated that a ban on cheerleaders at IPL T20 matches may not come anytime soon."There is a ban on dance bars in the state, not on dance", Patil,who holds the Home portfolio, told reporters.

However, Patil made clear that if any police official feels the performance of cheerleaders at the forthcoming matches is obscene, he could take `necessary action'.

Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner Ramrao Wagh Wagh said the "license holders" (the organisers) will be prosecuted under various provisions of the Bombay Police Act for indecency in a public place and breach of license terms if the dances become vulgar .

Sports Minister Subash Chakravarty led calls for the ban in West Bengal and sought the intervention of Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharya. Three ministers--Kshiti Goswami, Nandgopal Bhattacharya and Pratim Chatterjee-- also lent support to the demand.