Shah's bail plea hearing

Film financier Bharat Shah was, on Monday, admitted to Leelavati Hospital, Bombay, for an angiogram test even as the Bombay High Court heard arguments on his bail petition and an appeal against the lower court's order directing him to pay Rs 450 million to the court receiver.

In keeping with a court directive, he was taken from Thane prison to the hospital amidst tight security.

"Shah has developed multiple problems which include cardiological complaints and knee joint pains. He is suffering from high blood pressure and fatigue," said Dr Hemant Kumar, cardiologist, attending on Shah.

A team of doctors examined Shah. Medical tests commenced today and reports would be available tomorrow.

He had earlier refused to undergo an angiogram test on the ground that the government-owned J J Hospital was not well-equipped. Shah had pleaded that he was allowed to undergo the test at a private hospital. The court allowed his plea subject to supervision by a panel of government doctors.

Shah had been booked under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) for his alleged links with gangster Chhota Shakeel. Police claim to have recorded telephone talks between them which revealed that the film, Chori Chori Chupke Chupke was financed by the underworld.

Shah, however, claimed that he had provided the money to make the film.

Meanwhile, arguments on Shah's bail plea remained inconclusive at the High Court today. His lawyer Kapil Sibal said several film personalities had talked to Pakistan-based gangster Chhota Shakeel over the telephone but Shah had been singled out for reasons best known to the police.

Referring to 58 transcripts of telephonic talks provided by the police, Sibal said film personalities including Sanjay Dutt, Mahesh Manjrekar, Sanjay Gupta and Haresh Sughand had spoken to Chhota Shakeel. Yet, they were not arrested or made accused in the case of the Hindi film-underworld nexus.

In an appeal, Shah had pleaded for modification of lower court's order on Rs 475 million received by him from the distributors of the attached film Chori Chori Chupke Chupke.

Shah had challenged the order of special court which ordered him to pay Rs 475 million to the court receiver who had attached the film.

Shah's lawyer Kapil Sibal said that the film financier had received the amount when the film was under production. Shah had used the money to complete the film and not a single rupee from this amount was with him, his lawyer told Justice A B Palkar.

Shah was arrested on January 8 under MCOCA for allegedly developing links with the underworld to target film personalities for personal gains. He has denied the charges.

PTI