Jodhpur: Arguments on the appeal by Bollywood superstar Salman Khan against his conviction in a case of poaching of two chinkaras at Bhawad village near here in September 1998 ended today in the Rajasthan High Court. Khan was sentenced for 1 year in this case by the trial court in 2006.
Justice Nirmal Jeet Kaur reserved the order which will be pronounced after the hearing in another revision petition moved by Khan in a separate case of poaching, in which he was sentenced to 5 years imprisonment by the trial court. Hearing on this appeal will begin from March 28 in the High Court.
Khan’s counsel Mahesh Bora had begun the arguments in the appeal against 1-year sentence in the HC on November 16, and he had contended that Khan had been implicated in the case as there was no material evidence against him.
"Neither Khan had poached the chinkaras on the said night nor he was in possession of fire arms," Bora had argued pointing to the differences in the inspection reports of the vehicle allegedly used by the actor prepared by forest department and police.
Bora had also argued in the court that the key prosecution witness, Harish Dulani, driver of the vehicle of Khan, was never present in the court for examination.
"Hence his statements could not be relied upon," he had argued.
In its reply, Additional Advocate General K L Thakur had cited the statements of other prosecution witnesses and forensic reports of blood stains collected from the Ashirwad Hotel, where the poached chinkara was allegedly taken, to corroborate the statements of Dulani.
Khan was sentenced to 1 year in this case on February 17, 2006, whereas 8 other co-accused, including actor Satish Shah, had been acquitted by the trial court.
An appeal was filed by Khan in the high court against this sentence whereas two other appeals had been filed by the state government one each for enhancement of the sentence of Khan and other for challenging the acquittal of co-accused.
Government advocate Mahipal Bishnoi said that the arguments on the state's appeal also ended today and the court has reserved the order to be pronounced after the hearing in the revision petition in the other case is completed.
