The Sessions Court on Friday convicted model Preeti Jain, who was accused of plotting to murder national award winning director Madhur Bhandarkar by giving a contract to gangster Arun Gawli's aide Naresh Pardeshi in 2005. Two others accused in the case, with whom Jain allegedly conspired, were also convicted.
The three were sentenced to three years of imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 10,000. The convicts were, however, later granted bail on a cash surety of Rs 15,000 and a period of four weeks was granted to them to file an appeal against the judgment, before the Bombay High Court.
Jain had earlier accused Bhandarkar of sexually assaulting her between 1999 and 2004, making promises to cast her in his films. However, in 2012, Jain backed off from her allegations, giving him a clean chit.
The court held Jain, Pardeshi, and Shivram Das guilty under charges of conspiracy, and aiding and abetting the crime. However, two more accused, who hailed from Uttar Pradesh, were acquitted for a want of evidence.
According to a statement given before the Sessions Court by Sheela Saeel, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Agripada division in 2005, "It was revealed during the investigation that Jain had paid some amount to Pardeshi as a price of contract killing. The contract killers were found in possession of colour print out copies of photographs of Madhur Bhandarkar."
Jain had paid the contract killers, but since they failed to complete the task, she demanded the money back. The matter reached gang leader Gawli, who instructed his men to inform the police about it. After a detailed investigation, the police, on September 10, 2005, had registered a case.
Following the court's verdict, Jain sent a text message to the DNA reporter stating, "Today, I was convicted for three years in so-called 'supari' matter and immediately released on cash bail of Rs 15,000. I am filing an appeal in Bombay High court. I continue to have faith in the judiciary, God, and Myself! Pretti Jain."
BOILING PLOT
- Model Preeti Jain convicted for plotting the murder of Madhur Bhandarkar in 2005
- The three accused have been granted a period of four weeks to file an appeal before Bombay HC
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