The Patna high court has directed Bihar Director General of Police Narayan Mishra to take appropriate steps to stop cabaret dance shows at the Sonepur cattle fair.

The court directive came after a hearing on a public interest litigation filed by a lawyer, who said that in the name of art and culture naked dance shows were being held at the fair in the night.

The police is likely to ban the cabaret dance in the fair on Thursday in view of the court directive, sources said.

The cattle fair, which began at Sonepur, near Patna, last month, is one of Asia's largest fairs of its kind.

Police sources said some theatre owners were also showing nude and semi-pornographic shows at the fair. "These naked dance shows are a big hit in the fair," police officials said.

The shows were even being telecast by Patna based Hindi TV news channel since the last three days.

The cabaret dance groups come mostly from Kolkatta, Mumbai and some other places.