Says He Used The Oldest Method To Test Whether The Blood Sample Had Alcohol And Did Not Know The Concentration Of Chemicals While Testing The Blood
Mumbai : The chemical analyst who had tested actor Salman Khan’s blood after his car rammed into the pavement dwellers in Bandra killing one and injuring four others, has said that he used the oldest method to test whether the blood sample had alcohol and did not know the concentration of chemicals while testing the blood. He also said that he used 0.5ml of blood when 4ml was presented to him for analysis. He even admitted that lesser the quantity of blood the more are the chances of error in the analysis.
On Friday, Advocate Shrikant Shivade, representing the actor was cross examining the important witness to the case. Chemical analyst, Bala Shankar, in December 2014 had said that Salman’s blood tested positive of consuming 62 ml of ethyl alcohol in the blood sample of 100 ml that is beyond the permissible limit.
On being questioned on details of chemicals and formulas used for testing blood, Shankar did not remember any. When Shivade asked him details about the procedure followed to test the blood, he contradicted himself and gave different versions to it.
Shankar also admitted that if the apparatus to test blood is spoilt and the concoction prepared for the analysis is old, the reading can be wrong. He also said that he did not know when was the concoction for testing blood prepared. He also said that he tested only 0.5ml of Salman’s blood despite having presented with 4ml of blood.
Shankar also told the court that the forensic laboratory in suburban Kalina was not accredited by National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration.
The prosecution on Friday filed an application seeking a direction to produce Salman’s driving licence. Shivade opposed the application saying it is not maintainable. The judge is expected to reply on the same on Monday.
The case is being heard on a daily basis by Judge D W Deshpande and Shivade will continue to cross examine Bala Shankar on Monday.
The actor was earlier tried for a lesser offence of causing death by negligence, which entails maximum imprisonment of two years. However, he is now being tried for culpable homicide not amounting to murder that attractsa maximum of 10-year sentence.
