A local court in Jodhpur on Monday directed Bollywood actors Salman Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Tabu and Neelam to appear before it on February 4 with regard to the framing of revised charges in a 14-year-old poaching case against them.
It has been a long time since Khan and his colleagues appeared in the court, who were last summoned in June 2006 for a hearing in Jodhpur.
In July 2012, the high court had revised the charges against these actors when the state filed a revision against a sessions court order that dropped some of the charges against the accused. The high court ruled that Khan will be charged under Section 51 of India’s Wildlife Act and Section 149 of IPC.
“The court has asked Khan and his colleagues to be present on February 4 for framing charges,” said Mahipal Bishnoi, who is representing the Bishnoi community. “Now, the trial will start in the poaching case,” he added.
According to the prosecution, in October 1998, the film actors had gathered in Jodhpur to shoot the film Hum Saath Saath Hain and decided to dabble in poaching during their stay in Jodhpur.
The prosecution added that they killed two Blackbucks in the intervening night of October 1 and October 2 in Kankani village.
“Now the accused will appear in the court when the trial resumes and the charges are pronounced,” said Mr Bishnoi.