A HC in Rajasthan has revised the fees against actor Salman Khan and 4 other film stars within the 14-year-old black buck killing case, paving the best way for the path to start.
The Rajasthan High Court on Tuesday revised the fees against actor Salman Khan and his colleagues within the 14-year-old black buck killing case, paving the best way for start of trial within the case.
Disposing of a state government plea against a sessions court order dropping one of the vital charges against the accused, the High Court has held that Khan can be charged under Section 51 of Wildlife Act and Section 149 of IPC (Unlawful assembly), said Hastimal Saraswat, counsel for Salman Khan.
Section 51 of Wildlife Act carries jail sentence as much as three years or fine or both.
Khan's other colleague who were caught with him -- Saif Ali Khan, Tabbu, Neelam and Sonali Bendre -- may be charged under section 52 (Attempts to contravene, or abet the contravention of, any of the provisions of this Act) of Wildlife Act and section 149 of IPC against others, he said.
"After this decision of the high court, the trial will now commence within the lower court under Section 51 of Wildlife Act, and Section 149 of IPC against Salman Khan and under section 52 of Wildlife Act and section 149 of IPC against others, " said Saraswat.
The matter was pending before the high court since 2006, when the state government had filed a revision petition within the court against sropping of a few charges against these actors. The lower court had framed charges under section 51 of Wildlife Act, 27 Arms Act and 148 of IPC against Salman Khan and section 52 of wildlife Act, 147 of IPC and 149 of IPC read with section 51 of Wildlife Act against others.
The defence had then filed a revision petition against these charges within the session court, terming them to be baseless and redundant. Granting their petition, the session court had retained only charges of Wildlife Act.
But the state government went into the high court in contrast decision. The celebrities was accused of poaching two black bucks within the intervening night of October 1-2, 1998 in Kankani village near Jodhpur in the course of the shooting of 'Hum Saath Saath Hain'.
Government counsel Mahipal Bishnoi said that now all of the accused should appear within the trial court to listen to the revised charges and for resumption of the trial.
Earlier, they all had appeared in court on June 19, 2006.
Salman was convicted for 1 year and 5 years for poaching of 2 Chinkaras at Bhawad and one black buck at Ghoda Farm (Mathania) within the intervening nigh of September 26-27, 1998 and September 28-29, 1998 respectively.
Appeals against these sentences both by Salman Khan and state government are pending within the high court.
Courtesy: Mid-Day.com
