Convict Preeti Jain says did not have enough money to pay hitman to kill Madhur Bhadarkar

It was yesterday that Preeti Jain, along with two of her associates, got convicted for plotting to kill filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar in 2005. They were sentenced to a 3-year jail term.

The three convicts have now been granted a bail for a hefty sum of Rs 15,000 and have been given a four week ultimatum to appeal in the higher court.(Also Read: Accused of conspiring to kill Madhur Bhandarkar, Preeti Jain to serve 3 years jail term)

Speaking to a leading daily, Preeti finally opened up and claimed all the charges to be false. She said, “I had just Rs 550 in my bank account at the time the prosecution claimed that I paid Rs 75,000 to one of accused to kill Bhandarkar. I have proof. But I am not disheartened. Once we receive the detailed order, we will study it and move ahead for an appeal. I was not expecting this (the jail sentence). But I have complete faith in the judiciary.”

For the uninitiated, Preeti filed a case against Bhadarkar in 2004 claiming that the director had raped her 19 times since 1999, promising her to give a lead role in his next film. When he kept no promise, Preeti went ahead and filed a case against Madhur for rape.

The Supreme Court however quashed the case in 2012.

Preeti is now being sentenced to a jail for 3 years.