Seized Bollywood movie gets release

The film's star, Salman Khan, was also questioned

A Bombay court has ruled that a Bollywood film allegedly financed with underworld cash can go on general release.

Police seized negatives of Chori Chori Chupke Chupke (Hush Hush) last year after the arrest of the film's producer, Nazim Rizvi.

The movie's financier, Bharat Shah, was also arrested in January on suspicion of underworld links.

Hush Hush producer Shah is taken away

The court ruled that box office proceeds will go into the state treasury until the cases against Mr Rizvi and Mr Shah are heard.

Slush money

The two men have been charged under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act for using slush money to finance films.

The 1.2 bn rupees ($26m) movie is a romantic thriller that, according to one review, "keeps you in suspense till the very last scene!"

Although Mr Shah's lawyers have denied any involvement with the underworld, the courts have refused him bail.

Bombay police have long suspected the use of underworld money to finance Bollywood movies.

But this is the first time they have arrested film personalities for their alleged connections with the Mafia.

Concrete evidence

The arrests shocked the industry.

A love story... that succeeds in arousing your curiosity and keeps you in suspense till the very last scene!

Review of Chori Chori Chupke Chupke

According to state Home Minister Chagan Bhujbal, Mr Shah - a diamond trader turned film producer and financier - was arrested on the basis of "concrete evidence" which linked him with an underworld don, Chhota Shakeel.

Mr Rizvi was also charged with threatening film personalities.

During his questioning he denied any underworld involvement and said that every rupee invested in the film was accounted for.