By Hindustan Times

A day after the Mumbai sheriff’s office attached the residential flat of Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt over a financial row with film producer Shakeel Noorani, the actor’s lawyer on Wednesday alleged the producer had hired goons to threaten and extort from the actor in 2008.

“Noorani had in 2008 hired underworld (goons) to threaten Dutt and extort money from him,” alleged Dutt’s lawyer Rizwan Merchant.

“Dutt had then lodged a complaint with the crime branch and the investigation was handed over to Anti-Extortion Cell which had recorded statements of both the actor and the producer.”

Merchant said Dutt would soon move the Bombay High Court seeking a case to be registered against Noorani under the stringent provisions of MCOCA. “Noorani has indulged in an organised crime by asking an underworld gang to threaten and extort money from Dutt,” the lawyer alleged.

Noorani, on the other hand rubbished the allegations and claimed it was the other way round. “Dutt told me if I troubled him he will shoot me dead,” the producer said. “Dutt still has links with the underworld and the whole world knows about it,” Noorani added referring to Dutt’s conviction in March 1993 Mumbai blasts case.

The sheriff’s office placed Dutt’s residential flat at Pali Hill in Bandra under attachment on Tuesday while a similar attachment notice was pasted at his office premises on Wednesday.

Merchant questioned the attachment notices saying Noorani had misrepresented facts. “The office premise at Santacruz is owned by Sanjay’s wife Manyata. How can his wife’s property be attached?”

Noorani had claimed Rs 2.03 crore from Dutt including Rs 50 lakh paid to him for an under-production film Jaan Ki Baazi. He alleged Dutt had not given dates for shooting resulting in losses of Rs 1.53 crore.