Search the Internet           Tips

Charges framed against Salman in poaching case

Kamla Bora in Jaipur

A local court in Jodhpur has framed charges against cine-star Salman Khan and others in two cases of poaching of protected wild animals, and directed him to appear before it on January 27, when the next hearing has been scheduled.

Chief Judicial Magistrate Prabodh Kumat Vashishtha framed charges under Sections 143,144,148,201, read with 149 of the Indian Penal Code, Section 27 of the Arms Act and Section 51 of the Wildlife Protection Act against the main accused Salman Khan and 11 others, including comedian Satish Shah, on Thursday.

The cases in which the court has framed charges were registered by the police against the accused on September 26 and 28, 1998, in the Mathania village police station, about 60 km from Jodhpur, for shooting black bucks and chinkaras, which fall the endangered animals category.

Salman Khan is also facing two more cases of poaching protected wild animals near Luni village, about 30 km from Jodhpur, in which his co-accused are Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan, and actresses Sonali Bendre, Tabu and Neelam. These cases were registered by the state's forest department.

Salman Khan and the other accused are currently on bail.

The cases were registered after the Bollywood personalities, who were shooting for the Rajshri Productions' Hum Saath Saath Hain in Jodhpur, were found poaching protected wild animals during their leisure time during the last week of September and the first week of October in 1998. Their activities came to light when villagers belonging to the Vishnoi community, who consider it their sacred duty to protect black bucks and chinkaras, filed a complaint against them with the first department and the police. Further investigations by state agencies found that they had poached in other areas near Jodhpur as well, and cases were registered accordingly. A case under the Arms Act was also registered against Salman Khan for possessing pistol whose licence had expired.

Investigation by the forensic department established on the basis of bloodstains found at the sites revealed that hunting of wild animals had indeed taken place. The tyre marks of the Gypsy seized by the forest department from the accused also matched with those found on the poaching sites.

Meanwhile, Hastimal Saraswat, counsel for Salman Khan has filed an application before the court seeking a copy of the video tape on which the statements of the villagers in the presence of the actor had been recorded.

ALSO SEE:

Court allows prosecution to go ahead with poaching case against Salman Khan
Another charge-sheet against Salman Khan
Salman, Saif, others chargesheeted in black bucks case
Summons likely against Salman, Aishwarya
Varsha Bhosle on the Salman Khan affair
Salim Khan's bail extended by four weeks
Salim Khan gets a day's reprieve
The Salman Khan poaching case
The Salman Khan poaching case
Why Salman was locked up for poaching black bucks
Salman Khan's poaching case
Salman's counsel alleges political victimisation

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report