Salman’s bail petition rejected

JODHPUR, Oct 16 (PTI) — Matinee idol Salman Khan, under arrest here since October 12 on charges of poaching protected antelopes, was today remanded in judicial custody till Oct 26 by the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court which rejected his plea for bail. Although Salman’s lawyers moved the District and Sessions Court against rejection of the bail application by the lower court, Sessions Judge DM Joshi who heard preliminary arguments postponed the hearing until tomorrow.

However, Salman was today granted bail by Civil Judge and Judicial Magistrate Laxmi Datt Kiradu in the case registered against him yesterday under the Arms Act for misuse of firearms for killing protected animals.

Salman, granted bail yesterday by the judicial magistrate in the poaching case against him taken up by the Forest Department under the Wildlife Protection Act, was again arrested last night in connection with two cases of poaching registered at the Mathania and Bhadava police stations.

In both courts today the prosecution did not seek his further remand in police custody but insisted that he be remanded in judicial custody.

As he was produced in the court today Salman, trying hard to maintain his composure, faintly smiled to his teenage fans present there.

The actor is facing charges of shooting two black bucks and a Chinkara (Indian gazelle), both protected animals, in a forest near Jodhpur between September 26 and October two, while on location shooting.

The others named in the case are fellow cine stars Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Tabu and Neelam Kothari, all of whom have already been granted bail.

MUMBAI, (UNI): The controversy around the killing of two black bucks and chinkaras at Rajasthan took another turn today with the discovery of a black buck, two cheetals and a peacock in captivity in Salman Khan’s family farmhouse at Panvel, 90 km from here. Acting on a tip-off, the Bombay Environment Action Group (BEAG), raided the farmhouse owned by Salman’s father, Salim Khan, Wildlife Department sources said.

The animals and the birds were brought to the Sanjay Gandhi National Park at Borivli in North Mumbai. They were found caged in the backyard of the farmhouse.