Mumbai: Film financier Bharat Shah has moved the Supreme Court challenging the June 26 order of Mumbai High Court, which refused to discharge him in a case of alleged nexus with the underworld and rejected his plea for quashing framing of charges.

Shah's appeal, filed on August 4, is expected to come up for hearing in due course, his lawyer Vibhav Krishna told reporters in Mumbai on August 5.

In a related development, Shah has also urged the apex court to allow him visit Belgium as his nephew and niece is getting married this month end.

In the High Court, Shah had challenged the order of trial court which had refused to discharge him and also urged for quashing framing of charge under Maharashtra Control Of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).

Justice S K Shah, high court judge, had agreed with the findings of trial court that Shah had not made out any case for discharge. Being aggrieved, he has now moved the Supreme Court.

On May 6, designated judge A P Bhangale had rejected the petition of Shah on the ground that there was sufficient evidence to implicate him in the alleged crime. Later, charges were framed against Shah and others on June 13.

Prosecutor Rohini Salian had objected to Shah's petition saying it was not maintainable. She argued that the lower court's order was interlocutory and the charges were framed against Shah under a Special Act. Hence he could not challenge them in the High Court.

PTI