2002 hit and run case: 'Cops tampered with Salman's blood samples'

Defence advocate Shrikant Shivde on Monday accused the police of tampering with the blood samples of actor Salman Khan in the 2002 hit-and-run case.

“The blood samples were contaminated by the time they reached the forensic lab. They were returned to the police station the same day, as the analyst was not able to conduct  a test on them. The police then replaced the samples with tampered ones,” Shivde alleged on Monday, concluding the cross-examination of chemical analyst DK Balashankar, who had, in his report, mentioned the actor had consumed alcohol.

Shivde alleged the analyst was asked to cover up for the police and give a report as demanded by the investigating officers. The analyst, however, denied the allegations.

To most questions asked on

the method adopted to conduct the analysis, Balashankar’s reply was, “I don’t know”. “I have not studied much. I am trying to reply to all questions as much as I can. Whatever I have done is on paper and now I don’t remember much,” he said.

Shivde concluded the expert does not have any knowledge of the chemicals and the method used for analysis.

Meanwhile, the prosecution moved two applications to read the evidence of Khan’s bodyguard Ravindra Patil and the doctor who conducted the post-mortem of the man who died in the accident. The court will hear the arguments on February 27.