Bollywood superstar Salman Khan‘s acquittal on Wednesday in an Arms Act case, involving the alleged killing of blackbucks, allowed him relief in the case after over 18 years of litigation.
Allegations of poaching blackbucks were levelled against Salman in 1998 when he was in Jodhpur to shoot Hindi film “Hum Saath Saath Hain”.
The FIR was registered at Luni police station under the Arms Act on 15.10.1998. However, it took two years in investigation and a charge sheet was filed in the chief judicial magistrate (CJM) court on 28.07.2000. After lapse of six months, charges were framed against Salman Khan on 27.01.2001.
Thereafter, the trial in this case began in the CJM court on 12.03.2001. However, during the trail, several revision petitions were filed while challenging the charges framed against Salman and other co-actors. Therefore, the trial in the subordinate court was held up and it remained stalled for almost seven years.
After the decision of the revision petitions filed by the Rajasthan government and Salman Khan, the trial resumed in the CJM court on 25.05.2013 and Salman was summoned by the court, as accused, for recording statements on 29/01/14.
After completion of the trial, the CJM court reserved its verdict and the case got listed for the same on 25.02.2014, but before pronouncement, the prosecution pointed out a few old undecided applications in regard to prosecution witnesses. Therefore, the decision in the case got deferred and the court while granting the application, allowed four fresh witnesses to be examined.
After completion of their examination, Salman was re-summoned for accused statements on 10.03.2016. Thereafter, final arguments in the case began on 09.12.2016 which got completed on 09.01.2017. The court reserved its verdict again, which was then pronounced on Wednesday.
