Mumbai: The Bombay High Court would hear on March nine a petition filed by film financier Bharat Shah challenging his conviction by a special court in a case of alleged nexus of Bollywood with underworld.

The special court had on October one last sentenced Shah to one year RI (Rigorous imprisonment) for hiding information from police about links of producer Nasim Rizvi with the underworld but set him free as he had already served over 14 months in jail during the trial.

Shah was convicted under section 118 of IPC (Indian Penal Code), which deals with hiding designs to facilitate extortion, but under MCOCA he was acquitted as the court did not find any evidence of his links with the underworld.

He was however asked to pay Rs five lakh fees to the court receiver, which the court said would tantamount to payment of fine.

Shah challenged his conviction saying it was a stigma on his life and career and therefore he was challenging the trial court's verdict.

Moreover he argued that he was a director of more than 20 companies and that he could not continue on their board unless the conviction was set aside.