The man who was driving the jeep used by Salman Khan during an alleged deer hunt in Rajasthan in 1998, yesterday stuck to his claim that the actor had shot the animal
Salman Khan
New Delhi: The man who was driving the jeep used by Salman Khan during an alleged deer hunt in Rajasthan in 1998, yesterday stuck to his claim that the actor had shot the animal.
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Salman Khan
The statement by Harish Dulani, who was reported to be "missing", came two days after the actor was acquitted by the Rajasthan High Court in two cases related to poaching of Chinkaras in Jodhpur in 1998. Dulani also maintained that he was not absconding but was only in fear due to threats.
"I stick to the statement I made before the magistrate 18 years ago that Salman got off the car and shot the deer. I was not absconding, but I was scared due to several threats received by me and my father," he told NDTV.
"Due to fear, I went away to my relatives’ place in Jodhpur. We had asked for protection but did not get it. If I had police protection, I could have given a statement. That was what I always intended," he added.
The court had held that the pellets recovered from the Chinkaras were not fired from Khan’s licensed gun. Dulani, the prosecution’s only witness in the cases, was reported missing since 2002, which weakened the case against the star. The driver added, "I have been punished for being Salman’s driver. I am living in fear."