Salman Khan Summoned By Jodhpur Court In Black Buck Poaching Case

Jodhpur: The trial court hearing a case of alleged illegal possession of arms against actor Salman Khan in connection with black buck poaching has summoned him for recording his statements on March 10.

The District and Session Court gave this order after rejecting an application of the defence seeking recalling of a prosecution witness for his examination, stating that enough time has already been given.

Mr Khan had appeared in the court for the same purpose on April 29 last year for recording his statements and pleaded innocence but before the court could consider his plea, the defence had moved an application seeking re-examination of five prosecution witnesses of the case.

The case under Arms Act against Salman Khan was registered after the weapons, allegedly used by him in a poaching case at Kankani village where he had allegedly hunted down 2 black bucks on 1-2 October, 1998, had their licences expired.

The judgement in the case under Arms Act was to be delivered on February 25 last year but emergence of a prosecution application had held up the judgement.

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After a decision on that application, the defence moved an application seeking re-examination of five prosecution witnesses, which were completed yesterday.

Mr Khan, who has denied all the charges of poaching and illegal possession of weapons, could be sentenced to between three to seven years in jail, if convicted but could be out on bail almost immediately.

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Mr Khan has already spent time in the Jodhpur jail - in April 2006 and again in August 2007 - and his appeal in both cases is pending in the Rajasthan High Court.

Another case against him of poaching a black buck near Kankani in Jodhpur is still under trial. In this case other actors Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Neelam and Sonali Bendre are charged with inciting Salman to hunt.