Salman Khan claims unpaid dues for 'Chori Chori Chupke Chupke'

Mumbai, Nov 10 (UNI) A special Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court today adjourned till November 20, the hearing on a petition filed by Bollywood actor Salman Khan, seeking directive to state government to pay his balance dues of Rs 25 lakh for his work in the controversial film 'Chori Chori Chupke Chupke.' Mr Khan stated in his application that as per agreement with producer of film Nazim Rizvi in 1999, he had signed agreement for acting in the film for a remuneration of Rs 1.5 crore. Out of that, he has received Rs 1.25 crore and remaining amount is yet to be received.

He further stated that the film was completed and released through the court receiver. The sale proceeds of the film are deposited in the state treasury after settling of accounts and claims of all the parties concerned except his.

It may recalled that film ran into trouble due to arrest of producer Rizvi and film financier, Bharat Shah and others for allegedly having nexus with underworld don. The then MCOCA Judge A P Bhangale had appointed a court receiver.

The court receiver sold all distribution rights and deposited the amount in state treasury after the pronouncement of judgement in the case in the year 2003.

Beside Shah and Rizvi, other accused are Mohammed Shamshuddin alias Bhatija and Abdul Rahim Alhabaksh Shah and Bhatija.

It is the case of police that film Chori Chori Chupke Chupke' was financed by Bharat Shah and produced by Nasim Rizvi at the behest of Pakistan-based gangster Chhota Shakeel.

The court had attached the film and appointed Santosh Singh Jain as the court receiver to release the movie and receive the sale proceeds. The film fetched about Rs 12 crore after it was released in 2001. Shah claimed that the film was financed by him and that he had invested Rs 11 crore. Shah said he had agreements and bank entries to prove his claim. He also denied involvement of Shakeel in making the film.

Police alleged that they had intercepted telephonic conversation between Shakeel and Rizvi which revealed that the former had instructed the producer to keep his 50 per cent share in the film Chori Chori Chupke Chupke'.

UNI ST AB AKJ SK RK1745