Salman asked to appear before court on 29 April

Bollywood actor Salman Khan on Thursday was given an another chance to present himself before the court of the Chief judicial Magistrate in Jodhpur for recording his statement in an Arms Act violation case.

Chief Judicial Magistrate Anupama Bijlani, while allowing his application for exemption from personal attendance on Thursday, asked his lawyer to ensure Salman Khan's presence on the next date of hearing on 29 April.

Salman Khan was to get his statement recorded on Thursday under Section 313 of CrPC (power to examine accused), but on Thursday his counsel H.M. Saraswat moved an application seeking exemption from personal presence.

It was stated in application that the actor was suffering from an infection in his ear and taking medical treatment. However, Salman's sister Alvira was present in the court.

Salman's lawyer requested the court to allow them to re-examine five witnesses of the case.

He told court that after three eight-year-old applications of the prosecution were allowed and four witnesses examined a few days back, the scenario of the case has changed. 

However, the court rejected the application which was moved on Wednesday.

"We may avail the appropriate legal remedy as re-examination of the witnesses is very important for us in changed circumstances," Salman's advocate Saraswat said.

It may be recalled that Salman Khan and a few other Bollywood actors were accused of poaching blackbucks on the midnight of October 1-2, 1998, during the shooting of Hindi movie "Hum Saath Saath Hain".

Two blackbucks, a protected animal under the Wildlife Protection Act, were killed on the outskirts of Kankani village near Jodhpur. 

Salman Khan is accused of carrying and using illegal arms. He is also alleged to have been carrying arms with expired licence. A police complaint was filed against him on charges of being involved in hunting the protected blackbucks.

(Source: IANS)