Witness in Salman Khan Poaching Case Asks for Police Protection

Key witness Harish Dulani faxed a letter to the Rajasthan Home Minister, appealing for protection.

Salman Khan was acquitted by the Rajasthan High Court in the two Chinkara poaching cases. (Photo: Reuters)

Two days after the Rajasthan High Court acquitted Bollywood actor Salman Khan in two Chinkara poaching cases, a key witness in the case, made an appeal on 28 July to state Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria, seeking police protection.

Citing threat to his life and his family from unknown persons, Harish Dulani faxed a letter to the Home Minister seeking protection.

In the letter sent to Kataria through his advocate Anil Gaur, Dulani mentioned that some unidentified persons have been keeping watch on him and his family members around his house since the High Court pronounced its order, acquitting Khan.

In the letter, Dulani said he was the key witness in the case against Khan and after his chief examination in the court, his family has started receiving threats, following which he left Jodhpur for some time.

After that, I left Jodhpur without informing anybody for some time. Now since the verdict of the High Court has come, I have been constantly receiving threats by unknown persons, who have been keeping a close watch on me and my family.

The Letter read

He has also mentioned his poor financial condition in the absence of any permanent job. He has been surviving on income from petty jobs, which too he had been finding difficult to do because of stress.

Gaur, however, said that Dulani had engaged him as his advocate after the judgments by the trial courts had been pronounced and he was served notice for giving false evidence in the court on 18 April, 2006.

Rajasthan Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria had earlier said that the state police would provide protection to the witness in the poaching case if he asks for it in writing.

Dulani had maintained that he had not come forward earlier due to threats to his life.

He never approached us and did not bring this issue to notice. If he gives anything in writing, arrangement for his protection would be made. If he does not come, he will be contacted by the local police.

Gulab Chand Kataria, Home Minister, Rajasthan

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

He stuck to his claim that the actor had shot and killed the animal.

(With inputs from PTI.)