Mumbai: A key witness in the case of alleged Bollywood nexus with the underworld on March 6 identified in a special court the sample voice of film actor Sanjay Dutt, recorded by police to prove his alleged telephonic talk with Pakistan-based gangster Chhota Shakeel.

Dutt's voice has been recorded by police to forward it to Central Forensic Laboratory for comparing the same with the one figuring in the alleged conversation with Shakeel.

The witness said that on February 4 he was called to Worli police station for acting as a panch. Dutt and police officers were present. In his presence, Dutt's voice was recorded in a tape recorder, he told the court.

The witness said that Dutt was asked to speak on telephone and his voice was recorded in a tape recorder. The audio-cassette was then sealed in his presence. He said there was yet another panch witness in whose presence Dutt's voice was recorded.

The cassette was then played in the court in front of the witness who confirmed that it was Dutt's voice.

Police have intercepted the telephonic talk of Sanjay Dutt with Chhota Shakeel on November 14, 2000. Dutt has given a statement to police on this aspect. He will now be examined as a witness in the court.

The trial in the case of alleged Bollywood nexus with the underworld resumed on March 6 after two weeks following Mumbai High Court verdict on plea of financier Bharat Shah urging for quashing Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).

PTI