[ads1]
Mumbai-based model Preeti Jain has been sentenced to three years in jail after being found guilty of plotting to kill filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar, whom she had accused of rape.
The court sentenced two of her associates – Naresh Pardeshi and Shivram Das – to three years on charges of conspiracy, aiding and abetting crime. Two other aides from Uttar Pradesh were acquitted for lack of evidence.
In July 2004, Preeti had lodged a complaint with the Versova Police against Madhur alleging he had raped her 16 times between 1999 and 2004 under the pretext of casting her as actress in his films. However, she failed to prove it.
[ecp code=”4″]
It was alleged Jain approached Pardeshi to eliminate Bhandarkar in 2005, almost a year after she filed a rape case against the filmmaker, and allegedly paid Rs75,000 for the job. However, as the task was not completed, she asked for her money back. The issue reached Gawli, who then sent his men to alert the police.
After a week-long probe, the police registered a case on September 10, 2005. Pardesi was arrested the same day and Jain was picked up while she was on her way to the Versova police station.
The police later arrested Pardeshi’s friend Shivram Das, who was allegedly helped him arrange for weapons and shooters.
The trial first began in the fast-track court in Sewree, but was later transferred to the sessions court.