Verdict in Bharat Shah case on Sep 30

MUMBAI: The fate of film financier Bharat Shah, producer Nasim Rizvi and two other accused in the case of alleged Bollywood nexus with underworld would be decided on September 30 when the special court would deliver its verdict.
The judgement would be pronounced by designated Judge A P Bhangale in the open court on that day, prosecutor Rohini Salian said here on Sunday.
The other accused are Abdul Rahim Allah Baksh, former assistant of Rizvi, and Dubai-based businessman Mohammed Shamshuddin alias Bhatija. All of them were tried under Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, a stringent law of the state.
The absconding accused in this case are Tarun Shah, secretary of Bharat Shah and Pakistan-based gangster Chhota Shakeel. They would be tried separately as and when they are caught.
It is the case of police that Hindi film Chori Chori Chupke Chupke was financed by Bharat Shah and produced by Nasim Rizvi at the behest of Pakistan-based gangster Chhota Shakeel. Police produced tape recorded telephonic talks between the accused and Chhota Shakeel to prove their case.
The court had attached the film and appointed Santosh Jain as the court receiver to release the movie and receive the sale proceeds. The film fetched about Rs 12 crore after it was released in 2001.
Shah claimed that the film was financed by him and that he had invested Rs 11 crore. He said that he had agreements and bank entries to prove his claim. He also denied involvement of Shakeel in making the film.