A local court on Monday in Jodhpur has postponed the hearing in infamous blackbuck poaching case against Bollywood star Salman Khan along with Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Neelam and Sonali Bendre. The court posted the matter for March 23 to frame revised charges against the film stars. The court had exempted them from making personal presence for Monday’s hearing. But the film stars were asked to appear in person in next hearing.
“The matter has been posted for March 23, we have moved an application for exemption from personal appearances for today and the court granted the permission,” said Salman’s lawyer Hastimal Sarswat.
The matter was posted to read out the revised charges to all of them and the court directed last time to be present in person to hear the charges. The presiding officer of the court was also on leave. The incident occurred on intervening night of October 1 and 2,1998 near Kankani village under Jodhpur district.
According to the prosecution, the film stars had killed two black bucks on intervening night of October 1 and 2, 1998 while Salman along with other actors were camping in Jodhpur for the shooting of Hindi film Ham Saath Saath Hain.
During the hearing, the trial court had framed charges against Salman under Section 51 of India’s Wild Life Act, Section 148 of IPC and Section 27 of Arms Act. Beside this, the others, including Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Neelam and Sonali Bendre, were framed charges under Section 51 and 52 of Wild Life Act and IPC Section 147 (punishment for rioting) and 149 (unlawful assembly).
The same charges were also framed against the two locals Dushyant Singh and Dinesh Gawre.