Blackbuck poaching case: Rajasthan government may appeal against Salman Khan's acquittal

Salman Khan was jailed in 2007 for nearly a week for shooting an endangered Chinkara (gazelle) in 1998.

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Jaipur: In what could spell fresh trouble for Salman Khan, the Rajasthan government may move the Supreme Court against the actor's acquittal in blackbuck poaching case, in principle, as per a media report.

As per a report by NDTV, the development comes after the 'missing' driver, Harish Dulani, surfaced recently and said that he was ready to go to the court and testify in a third case that has yet to be decided.

"My life is in danger. I am ready to go to court but I want protection," he was quoted as saying by the media house.

Meanwhile, Rajasthan Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria, responding to the comments, said, "We will send somebody to contact him and if he says he needs security, we will provide him protection."

Dulani, who was driving the jeep used by Khan during the alleged Chinkara hunt in Jodhpur in 1998, had maintained that he had not come forward earlier due to threats to his life.

Dulani was reported to be "missing" since 2002, which weakened the prosecution's case against Khan, and had surfaced two days after the actor was acquitted.

He stuck to his claim that the actor had shot the animal dead. The Rajasthan High Court in its verdict had said the pellets recovered from the Chinkaras were not fired from Khan's licensed gun. Khan was jailed in 2007 for nearly a week for shooting an endangered Chinkara (gazelle).

While arguing the case in the court, Khan's lawyer had contended that the actor had been falsely framed in these cases, merely on the statements of Dulani, as per PTI.

The lawyer argued that Dulani was never available to them for cross-examination and hence his statements could not be relied upon in the conviction of Khan.

He had also contended that both the cases have been built on circumstantial evidences and there was no eye-witness or any material evidence against Salman.

Khan was jailed in 2007 for nearly a week for shooting an endangered gazelle in 1998.

(With Agency inputs)