Saturday, September 10 2005 15:40 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: Bollywood starlet Preeti Jain, who rose into limelight for charging film director Madhur Bhandarkar sexually exploiting her, was detained by police this morning (Sept 10, 2005) for questioning.

She was responsible for giving 'supari' (contract killing) to underworld don turned politician Arun Gawli to eliminate Bhandarkar, police said.

Jain allegedly paid Rs 70,000 as part payment to one of Gawli's aide in last two months, police said adding, that the matter came into light when another Gawli aide, advocate Bagawe brought the matter to the notice of police earlier this week.

"We have called Preeti Jain for questioning, but she has not been arrested yet,"Additional Commissioner of Police, central region, Subodh Kumar Jaiswal told sources.

Earlier, Jain had lodged a police complaint alleging that Bhandarkar had sexually exploited her on the pretext of giving her role in his films. She had stated that Bhandarkar had cheated her and demanded his arrest.

Meanwhile, Bhandarkar moved the court for anticipatory bail. Despite opposition by Jain and the state of Maharashtra, the court granted him anticipatory bail.

Later, Jain moved the court urging for cancellation of Bhandarkar's anticipatory bail. However, sessions judge U D Malvankar, rejected her plea.

Jain pleaded for cancellation of Bhandarkar's bail alleging that she had received a threatening SMS from him.

She also alleged that the filmmaker had gone to Dubai without informing police and that there was a copyright case pending against him. On these grounds, his bail should be cancelled, the actress had pleaded.

Bhandarkar, however, countered Jain's allegations saying he had never sent any threatening SMS to Jain and this was established during police investigations.

He said there was a case of copyright against him but it was dismissed in his favor and he had gone to Dubai after informing the police.

Jain had alleged in the police complaint that Bhandarkar had sought sexual favors from her on the pretext of giving her role in his film but had not kept his promise.

She also produced records of SMS messages sent by the filmmaker to her in this regard.