Tuesday, December 27 2005 13:27 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: Gangster-turned-politician Arun Gawli yesterday (Dec 26, 2005) failed to turn up at the forensic laboratory in Bangalore to undergo brain mapping and lie detector tests in the Priety Jain conspiracy case, a top police officer said.

"Gawli had gone to Bangalore yesterday but did not appear at the forensic laboratory. Instead his lawyers submitted a letter addressed to the director of the forensic laboratory saying that he may be excused as he was suffering from gastroentritis," the officer told sources.

Gawli has requested for a month's time to undergo the scientific tests but the director of forensic laboratory reportedly told him to move the Bombay high court in this regard as he was not an authority to allow such plea.

Last week the High Court had dismissed a petition filed by Gawli seeking a direction to restrain Mumbai police from subjecting him to brain mapping and lie detector test in the Priety Jain conspiracy case.

Justice R M S Khandeparkar and Justice R S Mohite dismissed Gawli's petition and also refused to grant a stay on their order.

According to police, Priety Jain had hatched a conspiracy to murder film maker Madhur Bhandarkar and had allegedly given contract money to Gawli's men for this purpose.

Priety and Gawli's man, Naresh Pardesi, were earlier arrested and subjected to scientific tests. Later, three more persons were arrested and a country-made revolver was seized from them.

Police suspect that Gawli was aware of the transaction between his close aide Pardesi and Preity Jain, and may have tacitly supported the murder plan.