Blackbuck poaching case: Salman Khan, 4 other actors booked under Wildlife Act

Jodhpur: Fresh charges were framed against Bollywood  star Salman Khan and four other actors in a 14-year-old case of blackbuck poaching during a film shooting in Rajasthan. The actors were booked under the Wildlife Act, while charges under the Arms Act and Sections 147 (punishment for rioting) and 149 (unlawful assembly) of IPC were dropped, reported CNN-IBN. The court of chief judicial magistrate read out fresh charges today to Khan and co-accused Saif Ali Khan, Tabbu, Sonali Bendre, Neelam in connection with the hunting of protected blackbuck at Kankani village in Jodhpur during shooting of film Hum Saath Saath Hain. If charges against these actor are proved they could face six years in jail. [caption id=“attachment_672207” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Salman Khan. AFP[/caption] Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Tabbu and Neelam had already arrived in Jodhpur and Salman was not present in court during the hearing. The Rajasthan High Court had revised the charges against these stars in December 2012, charging Khan with section 51 of Wildlife Protection Act and others including a local accused Dushyant Singh with section 51/52 of Wildlife Protection Act and section 149 of IPC. The next hearing, when evidence will be presented, is on 27 April. PTI