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Rizvi
to remain in police custody till Dec 27
The nexus between the film industry and the underworld was
once again exposed by the Mumbai police on December 13 when
they arrested Nazim Rizvi under the Maharashtra Control of
Organised Crime (MCOC) Act, 1999. He was later remanded to
police custody till December 27.
After the bomb blast in 1993, the industry had distanced itself
from the Karachi-based dons and there were claims that financing
from the mafia was almost non-existent. But the arrest of
the producer of Chori Chori Chupke Chupke has come like a
blast from the past and has lent a telling blow to the many
film companies who have only recently gone public. This was
evident when the stock exchange across the country reacted
negatively to the newly listed companies on Friday last.
What prompted the Mumbai police to pick up Rizvi and his associate
is unknown, but with the clinching evidence of 12 audio cassettes
of Rizvi’s conversations with Chhota Shakeel, there’s
little doubt that the bhais still have a strong stranglehold
on the industry. These cassettes talk about plans to harm
a few producers and actors including Rakesh Roshan and Shah
Rukh Khan and intimidate others to postpone their releases
so Chori Chori Chupke Chupke is assured of a good initial.
The recorded conversations also prove that Rizvi was acting
as a mediator for the don whose latest dream was to take over
a leading music company, Venus.
Bharat Shah, the financier of Chori Chori....,was called in
to the CID HQ for questioning on December 15 and 16 and grilled
for almost two hours on both days. Shah insisted that for
years he’s made it a point not to have any dealing whatsoever
with the underworld. “The police are free to investigate
anything, my slate is clean as ever. Rizvi may have a link
with anyone. Why I am being troubled for that?” he groused
adding that his primary concern at the moment was to see that
the film was released on schedule. “The distributors
have great faith in me. Not delivering the film at the right
time is like letting them down,” Shah pointed out.
The release of the film CCCC meanwhile, is uncertain. The
police has instructed Adlabs not to make any prints of the
film till the police gives it the go-ahead. Bharat Shah who
is also the negative rights holder and world rightController
plans to move the court. “The police can question Rizvi
but they have no right to stall the release and seize the
negatives of the film. I will see that the film is released
at the earliest,” Shah avers. He is expected to file
a plea before the Mumbai Court on December 18 for the possession
of the film’s negative.
The distributors and exhibitors are peeved by the latest developments.
“Around Rs 20-25 crores is at stake and if there is no
confirmation about the release of the film at the earliest,
it doesn’t augur well for the trade. If the police had
known about Rizvi’s involvement why didn’t they
act earlier?”, questioned a leading distributor from
Mumbai.
In the meantime, Mumbai police have interrogated Salman Khan
and director Abbas-Mustan on December 16. They intend to pull
in everyone who have been referred to in the cassettes. “We
will try our best to bring this case to a logical conclusion,”
maintained MN Singh, Mumbai’s Police Commissioner.
Chhota Shakeel gave a new twist to the drama in a telephonic
conversation with a news channel, refuting all the charges
made by the Mumbai police. “I don’t even know who
this Rizvi is. He must be just taking my name to solve his
problems. Am I a fool to invest Rs. 12-15 crores in films
and wait for years to recover it when I can earn the money
easily within days through my other deeds,” Shakeel argued.
The
nexus story so far...
Sunday,
December 10
There
are already rumours in the film circle that the arrest of
producer Nazim Rizvi is imminent. The industry gets panicky
and there is a doubt cast on the fate of the film’s release.
Tuesday,
December 12
The
special branch of Mumbai Police makes all arrangement to nab
the producer under the MCOC act.
Wednesday,
December 13
The
producer is arrested for his alleged underworld link from
his south Mumbai office by a posse of 30 policemen from special
branch.
Thursday,
December 14
Rizvi is produced before the special court of Justice Bhangale
and remanded to police custody till December 27. The print
of Chori Chori Chupke Chupke seized by police and kept at
Adlabs.
Friday,
December 15
Noted financier Bharat Shah is questioned by the police for
2 hrs and asked to provide more details about his financial
dealings with Rizvi and other producers.
Saturday,
December 16
Salman Khan and director Abbas-Mustan summoned by the police
and thoroughly grilled for some clues. Bharat Shah also makes
his appearance for the 2nd consecutive day. The police claims
to be getting to the core of the entire case.
Monday,
December 18
Bharat Shah says he will move the court to release the negatives
of the film and press for an early release of the film.
Padmaraj
Nair
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