Jodhpur: A police inspector on November 16 recounted in a local court the reported theft of Bollywood actor Salman Khan's revolver and its recovery later from the star's hotel room when he was shooting for a film here, four years back.

Deposing in the court of chief judicial magistrate Narsingh Das Vyas as a prosecution witness in the wildlife poaching case against Khan, Inspector Satya Mani Tiwari said he was posted at the Umed Bhavan Palace from Sept 26 to accompany the film unit.

He said Khan informed him on the morning of Sept 29, 1998 when the shooting was being held in Luni Haveli, that his revolver had been stolen from his hotel room.

On perusal of the arm licence, Tiwari said, he found it was valid only for Maharashtra state.

However, the actor had a letter of Mumbai police commissioner permitting him to keep the arms till September 30, 1998 in Rajasthan and Gujarat.

When he searched the hotel room in which Khan was staying, the revolver wrapped in a bed sheet was found in the attached bathroom.

The prosecution is claiming that the actor committed poaching of protected wildlife during September-October in 1998 in Jodhpur district with the same revolver and produced the witness to ascertain that the actor was indeed carrying the revolver.

PTI