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Charges framed against Salman Khan

A local court in Jodhpur on Saturday framed charges against Bollywood actor Salman Khan under the Arms Act to formally launch prosecution against him in one of the four cases of poaching filed against him in 1998.

Judicial Magistrate Ajay Singh told the cine star that he had been charged under Sections 3/25 and 27 of the Arms Act for possessing and using illegal arms.

Salman denied any wrongdoing. "I have not committed any crime," he told the court.

The cases have been registered against him for killing two black bucks in Kankani area in Jodhpur district on the midnight of October one and two.

According to the prosecution, Salman Khan hunted the wild animals with a pistol and a rifle, whose licences had expired.

Jodhpur police had difficulty controlling Salman's fans who thronged the court premises in large numbers. Glass panes of court room windows were shattered in the scuffle.

Salman's counsel Hasti Mal Saraswat moved two applications - one seeking permission for leave from personal attendance of the accused on regular hearing dates and another seeking permission for Salman to go abroad.

The court will take up the hearing of the application on January 29.

Two other cases relating to killing of protected animals, registered with Mathania police station in the first week of October against Salman Khan, could not be taken up since Presiding Officer Prabodh Vashishtha was on leave. The cases were postponed to March 15.

Yet another case is listed for hearing on January 30 in another court.

Forest officials arrested Salman Khan in October 1998 in Jodhpur after villagers lodged a complaint against him for hunting Black Bucks and Chinkaras, which are protected animals.

Cine actor Saif Ali Khan and actresses Tabu, Sonali Bendre and Neelam are co accused in one of the poaching cases. They were released on bail immediately after being arrested while Salman was put behind bars in Jodhpur.

Salman remained in custody for six days before securing bail.

The incident occurred when the film stars were shooting for Rajshree Productions' Hum Saath Saath Hain, directed by Sooraj Barjatya, in and around Jodhpur. The film unit had to pack up and return to Bombay after the incident and complete the remaining part of the shooting in a studio.

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