Shah Rukh Khan, Sanjay Dutt, Preity Zinta, Rani Mukherji, Salman Khan, Rakesh Roshan, Mahesh Manjrekar and Mansoor Siddiqui figure in the list of 50 witnesses cited by the prosecution in the case involving the nexus between the Hindi film industry and the underworld.

The prosecution is relying on tapes of telephone conversations allegedly involving Karachi-based Chhota Shakeel and film personalities like producer of Chori Chori Chupke Chupke Nasim Rizvi, his assistant Abdul Rahim Allah Baksh and noted film financier Bharat Shah.

Tapes of conversations between Shakeel and actor Sanjay Dutt also forms a major part of the police case.

The 1,800-page chargesheet has been filed by the special police force set up under the provisions of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA).

The chargesheet alleges that there is clinching evidence that Chori Chori Chupke Chupke was financed by the underworld.

Some of the witnesses, meanwhile, are understood to have given statements confirming the alleged nexus. Shah Rukh Khan and Rakesh Roshan, for instance, have reportedly told the police that they have been victims of extortion.

The statements of Preity Zinta and Rani Mukherjee have been recorded, and sources indicate that these statements form a crucial part of the police case. However, the contents of these statements have not been disclosed.

Bharat Shah, Nasim Rizvi and Abdul Rahim Allah Baksh are lodged in judicial custody. Shah's bail plea was rejected, for the fourth time, by the Mumbai high court on May 4. Shah is now expected to move the Supreme Court, seeking bail.

The case has, meanwhile, taken another turn with the police dragnet now out for Tarun Shah, secretary of Bharat Shah. Tarun has been declared a proclaimed offender and his flat in south Bombay has been attached by the court.

The police have indicated that an additional chargesheet could be filed in the case, once all the witnesses have deposed.

PTI