Preeti Jain admits to having paid money to kill Bhandarkar

Bollywood starlet Preeti Jain has admitted to having employed an aide of Maharashtra legislator Arun Gawli and paid Rs 40,000 to him to kill filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar, sources in the forensic laboratory, where she underwent brain mapping and lie-detector tests, said.

• Preeti Jain held for plot to kill Madhur Bhandarkar

It also came to light during the tests on Jain and polygraph and narco-analysis tests on Gawli aide Naresh Pardesi that she gave the money to Pardesi. The office manager of Gawli, who came to know of it, informed Bhandarkar, the sources told PTI.

During the tests, it was also revealed that Bhandarkar gave Rs 50,000 to Gawli who told Pardesi to "go slow", the sources said.

When confronted with the question on the alleged payment of money to Gawli, Bhandarkar told Aaj Tak that he does not know either Gawli or Pardesi. "How can such a thing be said when there is a contract to kill me?" the director asked.

The report on the tests had been sent to the Mumbai police, the sources said.

Jain, arrested for allegedly giving "supari" (contract) to Gawli's aide to eliminate Bhandarkar, was subjected to brain-mapping and lie detector tests in Bangalore last Tuesday.

Pardesi, who was also arrested for allegedly hatching a criminal conspiracy with Jain, underwent the tests last Wednesday.

Jain had created a stir in 2004 when she had lodged a complaint accusing Bhandarkar of sexually exploitating her and promising her a role in films.