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New Delhi: An important witness of the Central Bureau of Investigation has claimed that Sohrabuddin Sheikh was eliminated after a Rs 10 crore deal was struck between the former home minister of Rajasthan and the state's marble lobby.

The witness, Azam Khan, shared a jail cell with Tulsiram Prajapati, who allegedly witnessed Sohrabuddin's killing and was later killed himself.

Speaking to CNN-IBN, Khan claimed that BJP leader and former Rajasthan home minister Gulab Chand Kataria was paid Rs 10 crore by RK Marbles to eliminate Sohrabuddin, who was extorting money from the marble traders.

"Tulsi came and told me that RK Marbles had given the money. The money came from Gulab Chand Kataria. Some money was distributed among themselves, rest was taken by Kataria. They said RK Marbles gave Rs 10 crore," Khan told CNN-IBN.

He added that Tulsiram was killed by the Gujarat and Rajasthan Police in a fake encounter because he was a witness to Sohrabuddin's killing.

"They took Tulsiram alone and killed him. Both Rajasthan and Gujarat police were present," Khan claimed and added that his life was in danger because he was a key player in the CBI investigations.

"My life is in danger. I keep getting threat calls that they might kill me," he said.

Kataria had denied the allegations few days ago saying that he was not related to the Sohrabuddin encounter at all.

"During my five year term CBI never contacted me. I am 100 per cent sure that I am not related to this issue at all," Kataria, who was the Home Minister of Rajasthan in the Vasundhara Raje government, had said.

BJP leader and former Gujarat minister of state for Home Amit Shah is already under arrest for the alleged staged encounter killing of Sohrabuddin.

More on: Sohrabuddin Sheikh, Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter, Tulsi Prajapati, Gulab Chand Kataria, BJP, Azam Khan, Marble Lobby, Rajasthan