IPL bookie funded films, sent spoils to Chhota Shakeel

Investigations into a betting racket busted by crime branch's property cell has unearthed telling links between IPL, Bollywood and the underworld.u00a0The probe is slanted towards absconding bookie Prakash Chandnani, against whom a red corner notice has been issued. On Monday, Crime Branch officials grilled Nitin Manmohan, producer of the film ‘Gali Gali Chor Hai', for about two hours, in connection with Chandnani, co-producer for the flick, which, interestingly, highlighted the issue of corruption.

Filmy chakkar: Prakash Chandnani with wife Heema

Cops have discovered that the motion picture had also acquired finance from the wife of a political leader. The woman in question will now be called for examination by crime branch. Chandnani's name came up after arrested bookie Sonu revealed he used to receive orders from the former, who had been under police scanner for the IPL betting racket. Crime branch officers said Chandnani partially financed many movies, which are also now in focus. According to the officers, Chandnani used to organise parties, which were attended by Bollywood's who's who.

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Certain photographs have proved evidential in police investigations for tracking the colossal racket of underworld financing in Bollywood. Chandnani, nicknamed Tiger in the bookie world, is suspected to be in Pakistan, and works for underworld don Chhota Shakeel. Crime branch sources said Chandnani used to finance films in order to make the black money earned in the bookie business into white. After the release of a movie, he would send the collections to Shakeel through hawala. Police officers said that Chandnani now operates over phone from a different country, while his punters are in Mumbai.