SHAHJAHANPUR: Former national champion shooter Dilip Ayachi is all set to be made a co-accused in Jyoti Randhawa poaching case as he had lent his barrel to the international golfer which he was using in his gun when he was caught inside Katraniaghat wildlife sanctuary of Dudhwa Tiger Reserve on December 26.Dudhwa reserve’s field director Ramesh Pandey confirmed to TOI that Gujarat-based Ayachi would be made a co-accused as his weapon was used in illegal activities. “We are making Dilip a co-accused in the case as his rifle barrel was illegally used for poaching. A team of forest department has gone to Gurgaon for further investigation about this case,” he told TOI.Ayachi, whose son Pruthviraj has also been a national record-holder in shooting, told TOI that he had only lent a barrel to Randhawa. “I had only given a barrel of the rifle to ‘Joe’ (Jyoti Randhawa) which is a normal practice followed by shooters across the country. It is also approved by the National Rifle association of India, mainly because such equipment are imported and not manufactured in India. My work is to promote shooting. I support shooters for their competitions by lending them articles,” he said. Ace golfer Randhawa was also trying his hand at shooting for the past few years.“Joe has a modular gun with similar barrel but he wanted to test mine which is why he borrowed it from me. Such article can be used at shooting range or kept secure at home only. I am not sure what happened in Randhawa's case but I am always there to give my statement to forest officials," Ayachi said.

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