Salman Khan deposes as witness in Mumbai court

Mumbai, Mar 11(ANI): Bollywood actor Salman Khan on Thursday appeared before a special court in Mumbai as a prosecution witnesses in a 10-year-old case of one of his old movie.

Khan appeared before the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) court and reiterated the statement he had given 10 years ago.

The movie 'Chori Chori Chupke Chupke' (2001) hit headlines after the release when the Mumbai Police alleged that the movie was made with underworld's money.

Renowned film financier Bharat Shah was arrested in the case in 2001. Shah was alleged to have links with top gangster Chhota Shakeel and had used underworld money to finance the film.

"It was normal testimony for identification of one of the accused. He is not declared hostile," Shrikant Shivade, Shah's lawyer said.

Khan appeared as a prosecution witness and deposed against gangster Chhota Shakeel's henchman Anjum Fazlani.

According to reports, Khan stood in the witness box for about half-an-hour and answered all the questions.

The prints of the movies were seized by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in 2001 after reports that funds were used from questionable sources.

CBI also contended that the movie was produced by Nazim Rizvi and financed by Shah at the instance of absconding gangster, Chhota Shakeel.

The film, a family drama revolving on the sensitive issue of surrogate motherhood, was mired in controversy after both Shah and Rizvi were arrested and sent to custody.

The film was directed by the director-brother duo, Abbas-Mustan Burmawala and starred Preity Zinta and Rani Mukerji and did reasonably well at the box office. (ANI)