Mumbai, June 05: A top police officer today deposed before a special court on evidence gathered by the police to prosecute film financier Bharat Shah, producer Nasim Rizvi and two other accused in the case of alleged nexus of Bollywood with the underworld. Anil Dhere, the then additional commissioner of police and now the chief of anti-corruption bureau, told designated judge A P Bhangale that he was the nodal officer for coordinating the interception of telephone calls between the accused and the underworld don Chota Shakeel.

To a question by prosecutor Rohini Salian, Dhere said permission had been obtained from the government to intercept telephone calls and prosecute the accused under Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act.

On a defence plea, the cross examination of Dhere was adjourned to June nine.

Police claim to have recorded telephonic talks between Shakeel, Shah and Rizvi which allegedly reveal that they had targetted film personalities for personal gains. The cops also allege that film 'Chori Chori Chupke Chupke' was produced by Rizvi and financed by Shah at the instance of Shakeel.

The cassettes of the talks have been produced before the court as evidence and the spectograph (voice) tests of the accused have been obtained in the Central Forensic Laboratory.

About 74 witnesses have already deposed before the court. Among them were 14 Bollywood personalities who had turned hostile. They included Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Sanjay Dutt, Sanjay Manjrekar and Rakesh Roshan.

Bureau Report