Who is Jagdish Sodha?

Kanchana Suggu in Bombay

"Sodha? No, never heard of him..."

"Jagdish Sodha... Who is he?"

Scotland Yard might have dubbed 50-year-old Jagdish Sodha (aka Jatesh) as a prominent figure in the Hindi film industry.

What is, however, prominent is the fact that his is a name that does not ring any bells within the Hindi film circles.

Whether it is Komal Nahta, editor, Film Information, trade experts K S Sanjay, Indu Mirani, senior film journalists Dinesh Raheja or Rauf Ahmed, editor, Zee Premiere -- eminent personalities in the Hindi film industry themselves -- all have just one thing to ask, "Who is Jagdish Sodha?"

Jagdish Sodha is said to be an associate of the elusive punter, Sanjeev Chawla, who was arrested in London in December 2000 and was subsequently released on bail. He is also said to be a very close friend of the sports promoter Aushim Khetrapal, allegedly involved in match fixing.

Earlier today, R N Sawani, chief of the CBI team probing the cricket match fixing case, quoted Sodha as the man who financed the Sanjay Dutt starrer Vaastav, which was directed by Mahesh Manjrekar.

But Deepa Manjrekar, wife of director Mahesh Manjrekar, denies the statement. "I have heard of the man. And no, he has not financed Vaastav."

Mahesh Manjrekar, who is away at Wahi, Panchgani, for a shooting, was not available for comment.

Says Shyam Shroff of Shringar Films, which distributed Vaastav in Bombay, "The financier of the film is someone from Nagpur called N Kumar. I have never heard of Jagdish Sodha in connection with the Hindi film industry. I have only heard his name in connection with the match fixing case."

As to Jagdish Sodha, he still remains a mystery.