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Decision on Bharat Shah's
bail on Tuesday

Syed Firdaus Ashraf in Bombay

The Bombay High Court will announce its verdict on diamond trader and film financier Bharat Shah's bail application on Tuesday.

The application, which came up before court on Monday, saw his lawyer Ashok Desai mount a spirited defence of his client before Justice S S Parkar.

"For seven days, not a scrap of paper has been given to my client. Till now I don't even know what the remand application is about. While I have not been given the transcript of his alleged conversation with the underworld, the press and TV have it," Desai told a packed court room.

In fact, such is the interest in the case that the lawyer's arguments were heard in total silence, for over two hours.

"They have been merely questioning my client, and it is third degree treatment," Desai complained to the court. "He was always co-operating with the police. He appeared before the police, when called on December 15, and again on December 23. I am also shocked at the condition that lawyers can meet him only if the court permits. That alone makes me apply for bail."

"On January 8, when my client appears before the police as a dutiful citizen he is arrested and his hand-written application was rejected by the special court. The police has still to provide some evidence to me. He has been charged with possessing illegal wealth but Shah has clarified that he paid the entire amount for 'Chori Chori...' by cheque, his own money was given to the producer, Rizvi," Desai pleaded before the court.

While Shah was not produced in court, his son Rashesh and some other members of his family were present.

Bombay's Joint Commissioner of Police, Crime, D Shivanandan, who is spearheading investigations into what could be filmdom's biggest scandal, was also present during the arguments.

The Complete Coverage: The Bharat Shah Case

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