New Delhi: The Rajasthan government has urged the Supreme Court to stay the High Court judgement acquitting Bollywood actor Salman Khan in the “Chinkara poaching cases” and sought a direction to the actor to surrender in the court to serve the sentence of five years awarded by the trial court.
Rajasthan stated this in its special leave petition filed on Tuesday against a Rajasthan High Court judgement acquitting actor Salman.
On July 25, the High Court acquitted Salman in the killing of two chinkaras in separate incidents. One of the animals was killed at Bhawad on Jodhpur’s outskirts on September 26, 1998, and the other at Ghoda Farms on September 28, 1998. Shooting for the film Hum Saath Sath Hain was taking place at the time of the incident in the desert state.
Trial court erred, says Rajasthan
The trial court had awarded five-year imprisonment after holding him guilty of the poaching charges. However, Salman moved the Jodhpur bench of the HC against his conviction. The state government also challenged the trial court’s order on different grounds. On July 25, the HC, acquitted him of all charges and also dismissed the state’s appeal for enhancing the sentence. In the present SLP, the Rajasthan government said the HC had erred in acquitting Salman despite the fact that there was ample evidence for his prosecution and for awarding enhanced punishment.
