Noted film financier Bharat Shah, accused of developing links with the underworld to target film personalities, on Monday submitted before the Supreme Court that he would challenge the constitutional validity of Maharashtra Control of Organised Crimes (MCOC) Act. This was stated by his counsel Kapil Sibal even as a bench comprising justice M B Shah and justice R P Sethi adjourned final hearing on the film financier's bail plea for April 2.

However, the court termed news items published in certain leading dailies regarding Bharat Shah's bail plea as highly inappropriate and said this amounted to an effort to prejudice the court. But, the bench said we are not taking it seriously.

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During the hearing, Sibal said the bail provisions of MCOC was more stringent than the Prevention Of Terrorism Ordinance (POTO) and his client would challenge the same. Shah has appealed against the Bombay High Court order of August 17 rejecting his plea for bail in the case in which he along with Nazim Hasan, A R Fqrooqi, Shakeel Shaikh alias Chota Shakeel and Anju were booked by police under MCOC Act.

It was alleged by the prosecution in the chargesheet that all the accused conspired and instigated by communicating overseas to the mobile number of Chota Shakeel for committing murder of film personalities like Rakesh Roshan and Shahrukh Khan and furnished information about their residence, movements and other activities.
Bureau Report