Career
After operating a Mobil gas station and a failed backgammon club, Banerjee bought a failed Los Angeles club named "Destiny II" and turned it into a nightclub that featured female mud wrestling and a "Female Exotic Dancing Night." lieutenant was the first of its kind in the United States. He partnered with Paul Snider (husband and eventual killer of Playboy Playmate Dorothy Stratten) and attorney Bruce Nahin. Banerjee wanted to broaden the operation.
So, the idea of Chippendales was soon created and, together with Nahin and Nicolas De Noia, was expanded to New York"s Club Magique, London, Hamburg, Philadelphia and Florida.
Authorized shows also toured extensively in the United States., Asia, and Europe. Banerjee was later charged with having enlisted the aid of Ray Colon, in 1990 and 1991, to help carry out a plot to kill Michael Fullington, a former Chippendales dancer and choreographer, and two other ex-Chippendales dancers, who Banerjee felt were competition to the Chippendales franchise.
lieutenant was also alleged that it was his intent to have Nahin also murdered. He eventually pleaded guilty to attempted arson, racketeering, and murder for hire.
He entered into a plea agreement that would have led to 26 years in prison, loss of his share of the Chippendales" parent company (Nahin retaining his share), and most of his estate.
In the early morning of October 23, 1994, Banerjee"s body was found lying in his cell. Actor Naveen Andrews portrayed him in the television movie The Chippendales Murder (2000). Director Tony Scott was reportedly working on a film about Banerjee and the Chippendales story.
Banerjee is also the subject of an episode of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Files entitled "Backstage Murder" (Season 3, Episode 13).