Bharat Shah's plea rejected

Mumbai, May 15 (UNI) Film financier and diamond merchant Bharat Shah's plea that he be exempted from making a physical appearance in the court, which is hearing a matter involving him, was today rejected.

Mr Shah is embroiled in a legal tangle for allegedly making casteist remarks against a security guard.

Lahanu Pathare, the security guard at Royal Palms society in Goregaon, had lodged a complaint against the diamond merchant alleging that the latter had made such remarks when he had sought to check Mr Shah's credentials on February 8 before allowing him entry.

Adv Ishwariprasad Bagadia, representing Mr Shah, had moved an application urging the court to exempt his client from physical appearance.

But the prosecution challenged the petition on the ground that it was premature to grant such an exempton since a chargesheet is yet to be filed in this case.

The Metropolitan Magistrate at Borivali upheld the prosecution argument and rejected Mr Shah's application. Meanwhile, hearing into the matter has been adjourned till June 8.

The Bombay High Court, meanwhile, has stayed the execution of a non-bailable warrant, issued by the Borivali court against Bharat Shah on May 11 this year.

UNI