Mumbai, July 08: A special court today allowed film financier and accused Bharat Shah to go home midway through the trial in the case of alleged Bollywood nexus with underworld but deferred till Friday his plea for permission to go abroad for business promotion. On a plea made by Shah's lawyer Shrikant Shivde, the designated judge A P Bhangale allowed the accused to go home.
As regards his plea to visit Paris and London for business promotion for a week from today, the court inquired from Shah's lawyer how could the accused undertake the trip since he was unwell.
Shah's lawyer urged for adjournment of the application on health ground and said his client would like to go abroad next week. Accordingly, the court adjourned his application to July 11.
Shah has gone abroad four times since he was booked in this case on January 8, 2001 under Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).
He is facing the charge of developing alleged nexus with the underworld to target film personalities for financial gains. Police claim to have recorded telephonic talks of Shah and Pakistan-based gangster Chhota Shakeel which allegedly reveal that they had links.
Meanwhile, the deposition of the last witness in this case, ACP Shankar Kamble, is likely to get over this week. The defence and prosecution would then submit arguments and thereafter the court would deliver its verdict.
Bureau Report