Preity G Zinta recalls her threatening experience of 2003 Bharat Shah Case: Because Rakesh ji (Roshan) had been shot. Everyone was paranoid

Preity G Zinta, during her appearance at India Today Conclave East 2018, candidly discussed her involvement in the 2003 Bharat Shah case. In that challenging period, while filming for 'Chori Chori Chupke Chupke' Preity faced threats from the underworld, prompting her to receive intimidating calls. Despite influential figures in the film industry, such as Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, and Rakesh Roshan, retracting their statements about being threatened, Preity remained steadfast in her testimony. She informed the sessions court about the extortion threats from a gangster, even as others backtracked on their claims.

During the legal proceedings, Sessions Judge A P Bhangale ordered Preity's statement to be recorded in-camera, allowing only defense lawyers, along with the accused Bharat Shah and producer Nazim Rizvi, to be present in court. Bharat Shah faced allegations of aiding the extortion targeting film personalities, while Rizvi was accused of conspiring with him. The court later convicted Bharat Shah under IPC 118 for concealing his knowledge of Rizvi's association with gangster Chhota Shakeel and engagement in extortion. Rizvi, on the other hand, was found guilty of having connections with the underworld.

Reflecting on those challenging times at the India Today Conclave East 2018, Preity G Zinta expressed, "For the record, if I knew that everyone was going to back out, I also would have. It was a scary time in my life. I should have been protected. Whatever I said in court was on TV ten minutes later." Addressing the retractions made by others, she remarked, “ don't know what statements anyone gave. Preity highlighted the fear on film sets during that period, recalling the shooting incident involving Rakesh Roshan.

Preity recounted the distressing moments when the gangsters verbally abused her over the phone said ,"I don't think there was anything happening on that set. But there was definitely fear going around. Because Rakesh ji (Roshan) had been shot. Everyone was paranoid. People would keep their phones switched off, worried that they will get a call. I was fine till they were scaring me, but once they started abusing, I lost it. I can take stress, but not people abusing me. I learnt that if you get a call from +92, don't pick up! Luckily I was famous. Had I not been, it would've been tough."


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