After Rizvi, cops eye Bharat Shah’s role

Police Commissioner M.N. Singh said Salman Khan, Preity Zinta and Rani Mukherjee, the stars of the film, would also be summoned for questioning later. The police are also probing the funding of four other films, including those starring Govinda, Sanjay Dutt and Shah Rukh Khan and Juhi Chawla. They suspect that apart from Shakeel, Abu Salem too is investing in films.

Rizvi has reportedly already started spilling the beans. He allegedly admitted to being in regular touch with Shakeel over finances of the film after he was confronted with taped evidence of telephone calls.

The police also seized the negatives of the film Chori Chori…, the rights of which are with Shah. But film industry sources said Shah may move court to ensure that the film keeps its release date.

Shah appeared unruffled, and claimed he had nothing to hide. “If they want to probe the source of my funds, I welcome it,” he said.

The impact of the latest bombshell from Bollywood was felt in Nagpur too, where the Maharashtra State Assembly’s winter session is in progress. “The government will not spare those who helped Rizvi in investing underworld money in Bollywood,” thundered Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal. “The police will find out the source of Bharat Shah’s funds. A detailed investigation will be conducted into other associates of Shah, who also financed Haseena Man Jayegi,” Bhujbal said, replying to an Opposition sponsored debate on the law and order situation in the state. That was, of course, was a dig at Sena chief Bal Thackeray. It was his daughter-in-law, Smita Thackeray, who had produced Haseena….

Former chief minister and Opposition leader Narayan Rane claimed he too had ordered an inquiry into Shah’s connections and the source of his finances during his tenure. “A thorough probe into the underworld’s connections with the film industry will open a Pandora’s box, and the names of several Congress and NCP leaders will figure in it,” Rane said.