Nitin Desai death: Raigad cops issue notice to Edelweiss Group MD for appearance on Aug 8

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Raigad police in Maharashtra investigating the alleged suicide of film art director Nitin Desai on Saturday issued notice to ECL Finance Company/Edelweiss Group MD seeking personal appearance on Tuesday, an official said.

A day before, police registered a criminal case against five persons, including Edelweiss Group chairman Rashesh Shah, for alleged abetment of Desai's suicide.

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Desai, 57, who had worked for acclaimed Bollywood films such as "Lagaan" and "Jodhaa Akbar", was found hanging at his studio at Karjat in Raigad district on Wednesday.

Police have so far recorded statements of 15 witnesses, the official said on Saturday.

"A notice has been issued to ECL Finance Company/Edelweiss Group MD. They have to remain present at Khalapur police station on August 8 with related information," the PRO said.

Raigad Police has sought related documents and information about the case.

The investigation officer in the case is collecting the information from the advisor, financial advisor and accountant of ND Studio, set up by late Desai, police said.

Desai's company ND's Art World Pvt Ltd had defaulted on a Rs 252 crore loan repayment to creditors and the Mumbai bench of the National Company Law Tribunal had initiated insolvency proceedings against it.

A First Information Report was registered on Friday under Indian Penal Code sections 306 (abetment of suicide) and 34 (common intention) at Khalapur police station based on a complaint filed by Desai's wife Neha Desai, an official had said.

The FIR named Edelweiss chairman Rashesh Shah, company official Smit Shah, another person named Keur Mehta, R K Bansal of Edelweiss Asset Reconstruction Company, and Jitender Kothari who has been appointed by the NCLT as an interim resolution professional.

Edelweiss ARC, in a statement, had denied that any undue pressure was brought to bear on Desai for loan recovery.

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