★ (Jodhpur Case) Salman Khan may not be in court tomorrow !

★ Salman to face trial under Wildlife Protection Act !

January 24, 2013



It seems that the 1998's infamous blackbuck hunting case is far from over for Salman Khan. Today, the Supreme Court decided that the star will not face trial on charges of rioting but under the Wildlife Protection Act.

Justice P. Sathasivam, who was heading an apex court bench, refused the Rajasthan government's appeal that Salman Khan and four others (Saif Ali Khan, Neelam, Tabu and Sonali Bendre) accused in the case should also be tried for rioting under the provisions of the IPC.

Readers may recollect that the aforementioned names including Salman were all accused of poaching two blackbucks in Kankani village near Jodhpur.


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★ Partial Relief For Salman Khan In Black Buck Case !

MUMBAI: Thursday, the Supreme court provided partial relief to Bollywood superstar Salman Khan in the 1998 black buck hunting case.

The apex court headed by Justice P. Sathasivam rejected Rajasthan Government’s plea that Salman Khan along with the four others accused should also be tried for rioting under the provisions of the Indian Penal Code.

As per this decision, the actor will only be tried under the Wildlife Protection Act and not under IPC for rioting. This comes as a partial relief for Salman, who was accused of poaching two black bucks in Kankani village near Jodhpur in October 1998, along with his ‘Hum Saath Saath Hai’ cast Saif Ali Khan, Neelam, Tabu and Sonali Bendre.

“The charge under the Wildlife Protection Act has been retained against all the five accused. The Sessions judge discharged them of charge under sections 146 (rioting) and 147 (punishment for rioting) (under the IPC) and the Revision court (HC) also upheld it,” said the Supreme Court bench including justices P Sathasivam, J S Khehar and Vikramajit Sen .

Salman, who had to postpone his scheduled health check up in the U.S. for the hearing of the matter in the Jodhpur Court on 4 February, will surely be eased with the Supreme Court’s latest decision.

Though, Salman’s trip still stands postponed.

Says a source to the Khan family, “Salman underwent a surgery in 2011, in the U.S. to treat trigeminal neuralgia. He was asked to return for a medical check-up in January. He was very keen to get his medical check-up out of the way at the earliest. But now, a court hearing date has come up. So he has decided to postpone the visit for some time. His pain has subsided almost completely, but his family still wants him to go for the check-up.”

Salman Khan confirmed, “Yes, the trip has been postponed for now. I have got my court hearings coming up, so I have to go to Jodhpur. It (the US trip) would be hurried. That’s why I had to push it back till after the court cases. I will make the trip before Sohail’s film starts around February.”

As we had recently reported to you, Sohail Khan’s next is a remake of Telugu hit film ‘Stalin’. There is a debate on what to name the film – Salman’s favorite name ‘Radhe’ or ‘Mental’. We hear that Naseeruddin Shah and Tabu would be sharing screen space with Salman.

For Salman, on the legal front, this year is proving to be quite positive. The Bollywood star was recently also exempted from personal appearance in the Mumbai Court for the hearing of the 2002 hit and run case.


business of cinemabollywood hungama

04 February 2013



Mumbai/Jodhpur: Hearing on film actors Salman Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Tabu and Neelam involved in connection with the blackbucks poaching case of 1998 was postponed till March 23 by a Jodhpur court today. The judge Chandrakala Jain is reportedly on leave.

The court was supposed to read out the revised charges to all the actors, who are accused of killing two blackbucks on the intervening night of October 1 and 2 in Kankani village during shooting of the film 'Hum Saath Saath Hain'.

In September last year, the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (District) had framed Salman Khan under Section 51 of Wildlife Act, Section 27 of Arms Act and Section 148 (rioting and use of deadly weapons) of IPC. The others including Saif, Tabu, Bendre, Neelam, Dushyant Singh and Dinesh Gawre were framed under Section 51 and Section 52 (attempts to contravene, or abet the contravention of, any of the provisions) of Wildlife Act and Sections 147 (punishment for rioting) and 149 (unlawful assembly) of IPC.

The accused had then filed a review petition in Sessions' court, which had discharged Salman from Section 27 of Arms Act and Section 148 of IPC, whereas the others were discharged of Sections 51 of Wildlife Act and Sections 147 and 149 of IPC.

The state government had approached High Court against the verdict, which upheld Sessions' court order in Salman's case, but set aside the order of dropping charges against others under Section 149 of IPC. The state had then moved to Supreme Court against the verdict on Salman, but the apex court had upheld the HC order maintaining dropping of charges against Salman under Section 148.

NewsBullet.in

Bharati Dubey, TNN | Mar 22, 2013



Salman Khan may seek exemption from appearance in black buck hearing case to be held on Saturday in Jodhpur court.

The actor is currently in USA for his medical treatment for Trigeminal Neuralgia. His lawyer is likely to produce a medical certificate.

Meanwhile the other celebrities involved in the case like Tabu, Sonali Bendre, Satish Shah and Neelam Kothari Soni have already flown to Jodhpur on Friday.

TOI

MUMBAI: Actor Salman Khan will seek an exemption from appearing in a Jodhpur court on Saturday in the 1998 blackbuck poaching case. The actor is currently in the US for medical treatment. Actors Tabu, Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre and Neelam will appear before the court in the case.

Salman’s lawyer Dipesh Mehta told TOI, “We will seek exemption for him as he is currently undergoing medical treatment in the US. Though he had planned his US trip in such a manner that he would attend the court on March 23, his doctors have advised him not to travel.” He added that a medical certificate will be produced in court.

Last month, the hearing of the case was postponed to March 23 due to the absence of the judge. The court was to read out the revised charges to the actors who are accused of killing two blackbucks during the shooting of Hum Saath Saath Hain near Jodhpur. Last year, the chief metropolitan magistrate (district) framed charges against Salman under the Wildlife Act, Arms Act and the Indian Penal Code for rioting and use of deadly weapons. A sessions court later dropped the charges under the Arms Act and for rioting and use of deadly weapons. The court’s order was upheld by the Supreme Court.

TOI

Mar 23, 2013



Jodhpur: A court in Jodhpur leveled fresh charges against Bollywood actor Salman Khan in a case relating to his alleged role in poaching of blackbucks 14 years ago.

The Jodhpur court read fresh charges against Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Neelam and Sonali Bendre in the case pertaining to their involvement in the poaching of blackbucks in a village near Jodhpur. Though, Salman Khan was not present in the court, the other accused had arrived in the city the previous morning.

The fresh charges point out that the actors instigated and incited others to poach blackbucks. The case was filed against the actors in 1998 for having allegedly shot blackbucks in a village near Jodhpur during the shooting of Hum Saath Saath Hain.

The actors have been learnt to have denied their involvement in the report, media reports claimed.

The lawyers pointed out that the actors don’t need to come for the next hearing, that has been scheduled for April 27.

The blackbuck is a protected animal under the Wildlife Protection Act. The actors face charges under the Act. If found guilty, the actors will face a maximum imprisonment of 6 years.

Salman has faced a long drawn out legal battle in the chinkara and blackbuck poaching cases and has been jailed twice in Jodhpur - in 1998 and 2007.

(with inputs from PTI)

daily bhaskar

Blackbuck case against Salman Khan adjourned till May 25

TNN | Apr 28, 2013

JODHPUR: The trial of actor Salman Khan and other Bollywood stars on the alleged poaching of two blackbucks could not commence on Saturday as the witnesses who had to give their statements in the case did not turn up. The court then adjourned the hearing till May 25.

The trial was to commence from Saturday after the court had read out revised charges against Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Tabu, Neelam and one local accused Dushyant Singh on March 23 during their presence in the court except Khan who cited health grounds for his absence.

According to Khan’s counsel, two witnesses - Poonam Chand and Choga Ram - had to appear in the court of chief judicial magistrate to give their witness but they did not appear as they could not receive the notice . The witnesses were out of town for treatment.

The accused too did not appear in the court as they have been granted permanent exemption from appearance but if court deems it necessary, it may direct them to appear.

It may be recalled that the high court had revised the charges against the actors in December 2012. In the fresh charges, Khan was charged with Section 9/51 of the Wildlife Protection Act and others including a local accused Dushyant Singh with sections 9/51, 9//52 of the same Act and section 149 of IPC.

Khan and the other stars were allegedly involved in poaching of two blackbucks at Kankani village near Jodhpur on the intervening night of October 1 and 2, 1998 during the shooting of the film “Hum Sath Sath Hain”.

TOI

Court relief for Salman in deer killing case

Suresh Vyas | May 15, 2013

In a major relief to film actor Salman Khan, Rajasthan high court on Wednesday rejected the revision petition filed by the state government against him in the 14-year-old blackbuck poaching case.

Now, the actor need not travel to Jodhpur for personal appearance before the court. With this decision the high court also directed the lower court to initiate a trial in the matter, which has been pending for the past four years.

After the lower court rejected the revision petition, the government had moved the high court 2006, saying it wanted to make changes in the chargesheet filed against Salman for possession of arms.

Salman’s lawyer HM Saraswat said the court was told if the revision petition was allowed, the entire trial in the case would have to be repeated, especially when the trial court had framed charges against the actor on the basis of FIR and the statements of 15 witnesses.

Besides Salman, actors Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Tabu and Neelam were accused of poaching two Blackbucks the same day in the intervening night of October 1 and 2, 1998 in Kankani village near Jodhpur during the shooting of the film 'Hum Saath Saath Hain'.

He was also booked for illegal possession of guns whose licence had expired on September 22, 1998.

Hindustan Times

Salman and his co-stars summoned for black buck case

October 12, 2013



Salman Khan, who is currently caught in a legal controversy since 1998 for killing black bucks in the city of Jodhpur was summoned by the court along with his co-stars for identification. The main prosecution Mahishpal Bishnoi’s complainant and eye witness Poonam Chand was to identify the partners in the crime - Neelam, Sonali Bendre and Tabu for which the actresses were to appear before Chief Judicial Magistrate (rural) Chandra Kala Jain.

The counsel of Salman, Hastimal Saraswat revealed that an identification of Salman and Saif Ali Khan was unnecessary considering the fact that they were very known faces. At the same time, the counsel also claimed that there was confusion amongst the actresses and hence the identification process for them was necessary.

The black buck case has been ongoing for more than a decade where Salman and his Hum Saath Saath Hain co-stars were being accused of killing two black bucks at Kankani in Jodhpur on the night of October 1- 2, 1998.

bollywood hungama

★ No evidence against Salman Khan in Blackbuck poaching case: Counsel Hastimal Saraswat !

Salman Khan's counsel on Monday said there were no direct evidences against the actor that he carried arms with expired licence during the alleged Blackbuck poaching at the nearby Kankani village in 1998.

Salman's counsel Hastimal Saraswat on Monday claimed at the ACJM (Jodhpur District) court that the case against the actor is nothing but a sheaf of untruth, which has miserably failed to count some very important facts.

"During the arguments, the officer could not give any satisfactory and conclusive replies to some very important questions I had raised," Saraswat said.

It may be recalled that a separate case had been registered against Salman by the forest department on October 15, 1998 under the Arms Act mentioning that the licences of the arms in the actor's possession during the alleged blackbuck poaching had expired and hence he had been using them illegally.

"Upon this complaint, the Luni police had registered a case against the actor under sections 3/25 and 27 of Arms Act," Saraswat said.

Meanwhile, magistrate Chandra Kala Jain deferred the trial of the final witness of prosecution in the Arms Act against Salman in the case till January 15.

The then Additional SP and Investigating Officer Ashok Patni, who is the final witness among 16 others, appeared at the trial began on Monday at the ACJM (Jodhpur District) court.

The trial resumed in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate (Jodhpur District) on May 25 this year, seven years after the Rajasthan High Court rejected the revision petition, filed by the state government in 2006.

Besides Salman, actors Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Tabu and Neelam were accused of poaching two Blackbucks in the intervening night of October 1 and 2, 1998 in Kankani village near Jodhpur during the shooting of the film 'Hum Saath Saath Hain'.

It may be recalled that the High Court had revised the charges against the actors in December 2012. In the fresh charges, Salman was charged with Section 9/51 of the Wildlife Protection Act and others including a local accused Dushyant Singh with sections 9/51, 9/52 of the same Act and section 149 of IPC.

Blackbuck is a protected animal and hunting or poaching of the same is a punishable offence under law.

DNA India

★ Witness examined in black buck poaching case !

Dec 17, 2013

JODHPUR: The trial of the last prosecution witness against Salman Khan in the infamous black buck poaching case began on Monday in the court of additional chief judicial magistrate, Jodhpur. The then additional superintendent of police and investigating officer Ashok Patni appeared in the court on Monday and was cross examined by the defence counsel for six hours. After the marathon arguments, which will continue, magistrate Chandra Kala Jain deferred the hearing till January 15.

Hastimal Saraswat, counsel for Khan, said there were 16 witnesses in the case filed against Salman Khan under Arms Act, out of which 15 have already been tried and the last witness, the then additional SP Ashok Patni, was tried on Monday. He said there were no direct evidences against Khan to show that he carried arms with expired license during the alleged poaching of antelopes.

He claimed that the case against Salman was nothing but a sheaf of untruth. "During the arguments, the officer could not give satisfactory and conclusive replies to some very important questions raised by me," Saraswat claimed adding that there are no direct evidences against Salman.

A separate case was registered against Salman Khan by the forest department on October 15, 1998 under the Arms Act mentioning that the arms, in possession of Salman, during poaching of the black bucks at Kankani village near Jodhpur on the night of October 1, 1998, had their licences expired and hence he had been using them illegally.

"Upon this complaint, the Luni police registered a case against Khan under sections 3/25 and 27 of Arms Act", said Saraswat. The trial in the case resumed in the court of chief judicial magistrate on May 25 this year after 7 years' of suspension following the Rajasthan High Court's rejection of the revision petition, which was filed by the state government in 2006. The court had rejected this petition on May 15 this year.

TOI