Poaching in Rajasthan: HC acquits Salman

Tribune News Service

Jodhpur, July 25

The Rajasthan High Court today acquitted Bollywood star Salman Khan in two cases of chinkara poaching, saying there was not sufficient evidence against him.

Justice Nirmaljit Kaur acquitted Salman by allowing his petitions against one-year and five-year sentences by a lower court in the Bhawad and Mathania poaching cases in which three chinkaras were allegedly poached on September 26-27 and 28-29 in 1998.

The court also rejected three appeals by the state government. The Judge said there wasn’t sufficient evidence against Salman proving his involvement in both cases. 

The court held that the pellets recovered from chinkara carcasses were not fired from Salman’s licensed gun. The driver of the jeep that was used by Khan and his co-stars on their alleged hunting mission has been missing, weakening the prosecution’s case. 

Additional Advocate General KL Thakur said the decision on an appeal would be taken after perusal of the order.