Mumbai: Mumbai High Court would on January 27 deliver its verdict on an appeal filed by controversial film financier Bharat Shah against a lower court order which had refused to modify, alter and delete charges framed against him in a case of alleged nexus with underworld.

After hearing arguments on January 24, Justice A S Aguiar had reserved order on Shah's plea until January 27.

Shah urged the High Court to modify all the charges framed against him while the prosecution opposed his plea saying the trial had reached its fag end in a special court.

Shah's lawyer Kapil Sibal said there was insufficient material to frame charges against Shah under Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).

Shah has challenged an order of trial judge A P Bhangale, who had framed charges against him for threatening film personalities including Hrithik Roshan and Shah Rukh Khan and conspiring with others to murder them.

Shah has questioned the framing of charge of murder (section 302 IPC) on the ground that it was "absurd" as these personalities were still alive.

Shah had urged for altering and modifying charges framed against him in the Supreme Court. The apex court asked him to move the High Court. The trial court on July 22 had turned down his plea on the ground that altering or modifying charges could be considered after the evidence was adduced.

Prosecutor Rohini Salian said the trial court's order was interlocutory and not final. Therefore Shah's appeal was not maintainable. She said that trial had reached its fag end with deposition of 60 witnesses. If there was no material against Shah, then he may get acquittal, she argued.

PTI