The Punjab and Haryana high court on Friday dismissed the anticipatory bail plea of former cricket captain Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, who is charged with poaching.
Pataudi, who allegedly shot an endangered black buck near Jhajhar in Haryana, had moved the court after the police framed charges and set him a deadline to appear before them for questioning.
Vacation judge Justice Rajive Bhalla also dismissed the anticipatory bail plea of his co-accused Shashi Singh after hearing the arguments from a battery of lawyers representing them, the state of Haryana, Wildlife Trust of India, All India Bishnoi Mahasabha and Peoples for Animals for over two hours.
"Sorry gentlemen. The petition is dismissed," the Judge said adding that the detailed order would be available later as "minor corrections are required."
Pataudi's counsel Anand Chibber said that the next course of action would be decided after getting the final order on Saturday.
Earlier, the state of Haryana presented the entire record pertaining to the case in the court, including the post mortem report of the black buck.
Hearing the application on Tuesday, the court had asked the government to produce details of the case.
Pataudi and seven others have been booked under various sections of the Wildlife Protection Act following the recovery of the carcasses of a black buck and two rabbits from their vehicle near a wildlife sanctuary in Jhajjar in Haryana earlier in June.
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