The prosecution suffered another setback in the Gulshan Kumar murder case when the Mumbai Sessions Court Thursday declared film actor Chunky Pandey and a witness in the case as hostile. The court order came after Pandey denied stating that he was present when prime accused Abu Salem and music composer were discussing Gulshan Kumar.

Apart from Chunky, Bollywood stars Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan had also been summoned as witnesses. Shah Rukh Khan, however, was not present as the actor was busy with a professional assignment, the court was informed.Declaration of Chunky as hostile came as the actor he did not support the prosecution case. He was examined by the special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam before sessions court Judge M L Tehilyani.

Pandey denied admitting that the prime accused Abu Salem and music composer Nadeem Akhtar Saifee had allegedly met in Dubai in his presence where they discussed about Gulshan Kumar. He also said that he did not give this information in September 1997 to police, who recorded his statement. The Prosecutor then informed the court that he was dropping Salman and Shah Rukh as witnesses in view of the hostile attitude of Pandey. Salman was told that he had been discharged as soon as he stepped into the witness box.