Mumbai, Jan 09: In a case of alleged Bollywood nexus with the underworld, film actress Preity Zinta today appeared as a star witness before a special court which recorded her statement in-camera.

Prosecutor Rohini Salian sought permission of designated judge A P Bhangale to record her statement in-camera.
As the judge allowed her plea, journalists and other persons were asked to leave the court. Defence lawyers were, however, permitted to attend the proceedings.


Earlier, in a statement to police, the actress had said that she had received threatening calls on her cell phone in 2000 end from a member of Chhota Shakeel gang asking her to pay extortion amount. Preity also said that she had disclosed this information to her friend and actor Sanjay Dutt. The chargesheet filed by police includes her statement.

Preity is the 14th Bollywood personality to be examined as a witness. Others have turned hostile. On Tuesday, actor Salman Khan had turned hostile and denied that he had received threats from gangsters Chhota Shakeel and Abu Salem. Other Bollywood personalities who have turned hostile include Shah Rukh Khan, Rakesh Roshan, Mahesh Manjrekar, Harish Sughand, Ratan Jain, Sanjay Gupta, Ali Morani, Mohammed Morani and Anees Bazme.

Police had intercepted telephonic talks between Chhota Shakeel and four accused in this case. They are film financier Bharat Shah, producer Nasim Rizvi, his assistant Abdul Rahim Allah Baksh and Dubai-based jeweller Mohammed Shamshuddin. The talks reveal their alleged nexus to target film personalities for personal gains.

Bureau Report