Mumbai: The prosecution on July 22 closed its evidence in the sensational case of alleged Bollywood nexus with the underworld after examining 76 witnesses in a special court in the trial, which lasted for a year.

In a related development, accused Bharat Shah, Nasim Rizvi, Mohammed Shamshuddin and Abdul Rahim Allah Baksh were directed to appear before the court by turns to answer the questions put to them by the designated judge A P Bhangale on the evidence adduced by the prosecution.

Producer Nasim Rizvi was the first accused to appear before the judge. The court asked him few questions on July 21 and directed him to appear again on July 22.

The last witness to depose before the judge was the court receiver Santosh Singh Jain, who had released the tainted film "Chori Chori Chupke Chupke" produced by Nasim Rizvi and financed by Bharat Shah allegedly at the instance of Pakistan-based gangster Chhota Shakeel.

The court had attached the film as police alleged that it was funded by the underworld. Jain was appointed as the court receiver to release the film and realise the sale proceeds. He collected Rs 12 lakh from the release of the film and deposited the amount in fixed deposits.

It is the case of police that Shah, Rizvi and Shakeel were partners in the making of this film and that they had targeted certain film personalities for personal gains.

Police also claim to have recorded telephonic talks between the trio, which allegedly revealed their nexus.

PTI