As cassettes play, scribes told to leave

Journalists were today ordered by the designated judge of Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) Court to leave the courtroom before tapes containing conversations between Chhota Shakeel and prime accused and producer Nasim Rizvi were played.

Judge A.P. Bhangale allowed an application for in-camera hearing of the tapes moved by defence lawyers Shrikant Shivde and Vibhav Krishna. Two cassettes of the conversation intercepted on Nov 30, 2000 were played.

The judge directed all journalists and those not connected with the case to leave the courtroom. The prosecution also moved an application before the judge stating that the witness did not want his name and address to be revealed. The witness told the court that the audio cassettes were sealed in his presence.