The Hindu : National : Chinkara poaching case against Salman reopened

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Friday, Jun 23, 2006

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National

Chinkara poaching case against Salman reopened

Special Correspondent

Eight-year-old case allegedly "hushed up" then by the state forest department

GANDHINAGAR: An eight-year-old case of illegal poaching of two chinkaras, a protected species of deer family, against Bollywood actor Salman Khan was reopened in Gujarat.

The state police CID crime branch reopened the investigation, allegedly "hushed up" then by the state forest department, at the instance of Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

Encouraged by Mr. Khan's sentence for similar offences by the Jodhpur court, the Gir Nature Youth Club, a voluntary organisation dedicated to wildlife protection and environment, sought details of the "Chinkara" case against the actor under the Right to Information Act.

As the State failed to provide any definite clue of the case, Club president Amit Jethava sent a letter to Mr. Modi demanding re-investigation of the case. The Chief Minister sent the letter to the CID crime branch for necessary action.

The state forest department investigated the case and decided to close the file "for want of evidence." Mr. Jethava, however, was not satisfied and believed that the case was "hushed up."

A senior forest department official maintained that the case was closed down after proper investigation as no clue was found about the alleged poaching or Mr. Khan's involvement.

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