Court frames charges against Salman

The case relates to the poaching of two blackbucks at Kankani village on the night of October 1, 1998, allegedly by the film stars during the shooting of Hum Saath Saath Hain. While Salman is the main accused, guilty of carrying out the actual killing, the others are facing charges of encouraging and helping him. Salman has already been sentenced to a year in prison in another case of poaching in the same area.

Against the main accused Salman, charges were framed under provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act, which bans poaching of blackbucks, Section 147 of the IPC, unlawful assembly and the Arms Act. The others have been booked under Section 51 of the Wildlife Act.

The heroines arrived in Jodhpur a day earlier and Salman and Saif a few hours before trial. Fresh trouble accompanied them as the media aired tapes of a statement made to forest department seven years ago by accused Harish Dulani.