Blackbuck poaching case: Court frames fresh charges against Saif

 

A Jodhpur Court on Saturday framed fresh charges against Bollywood actors Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Neelam Kothari and Sonali Bendre in connection with the 1998 blackbuck poaching case in Rajasthan.The government’s lawyer, Mahipal Bishnoi, said the court has framed fresh charges against Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Neelam Kothari and Tabu.Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Neelam and Sonali Bendre were charged under the Act with hunting and inciting Salman Khan to hunt, as well as unlawful assembly. If convicted, the actors face up to six years in jail.

“The court said that they were with actor Salman Khan in the same gypsy when the blackbuck was shot and also provoked him to do so. Taking all this into consideration, the court has framed fresh charges against the actors,” he added.K. K. Vyas, the lawyer representing Saif Ali Khan Tabu, Neelam Kothari and Sonali Bendre, said the judge called all the accused and read out the fresh charges against them.

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 with Section 51/52 of Wildlife Protection Act and Section 149 of IPC.

While the other actors were present for the hearing held earlier today, Salman, who is away in US for medical treatment, was absent and was represented by his lawyer who sought medical exemption for the actor’s absence at the hearing.The main witness, the driver of the jeep the actors took on the alleged hunting trip, has been missing for several years.