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Bharat Shah case: Trial deferred
till January 24

A trial in the Bollywood-underworld nexus case, involving film financier Bharat Shah and producer Nasim Rizvi, did not commence in the special court in Mumbai on Tuesday, as both the accused could not be produced in view of ill-health.

Designated Judge A P Bhangale, exempting Shah and Rizvi from personal appearance for the day, ordered the prosecution to open its case on January 24 and directed the police to produce the accused on that day.

However, Abdul Rahim Allah Baksh, Rizvi's assistant and co-accused, was produced before the court which extended his judicial custody till January 24.

Another accused, Ahmed Shamshuddin Mohammed Salihi alias Bhatija, was not present because he was already in judicial custody.

Three other accused, Karachi-based gangster Chhota Shakeel, Anjum and Bharat Shah's personal secretary, Tarun Shah, are still absconding.

Prosecutor Rohini Salian on Tuesday filed a list of documents and articles seized from the offices of Shah and Rizvi at the time of their arrest.

The prosecutor also informed the court that she was forwarding the reports received from the Central Forensic Science Laboratory on the spectograhic tests of the accused involved in telephonic talks with Chhota Shakeel.

The police claim to have recorded telephonic talks between Rizvi, Shah, Abdul Rahim and Chhota Shakeel, which reveal that they had targeted film personalities for personal gains.

The talks also allegedly reveal that film Chori Chori Chupke Chupke was made at the behest of the underworld.

The documents submitted by the prosecution also contain the statement of film producer Mansoor Siddiqui, who is alleged to have parted with extortion amount.

The defence lawyers did not admit or deny the documents produced. They sought time to verify them and hence the court adjourned the matter to January 24. Admitting or denying documents are pre-requisite to a trial.

Thereafter, the court will explain the charges to each of the accused and then frame charge against them.

PTI

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