Salman Khan who, along with some other Bollywood actors, was accused of poaching blackbucks on October 1, 1998, during the shooting of his film, 'Hum Sath Sath Hai', has, today, claimed that the 'blackbuck died of natural causes', reports The Times Of India.
According to the report, Khan told the court that "Only the first forensic report of Dr Nepalia saying that the animal died of "natural causes" was true and the rest of the evidence is false."
The 51-year-old was asked 65 questions by Chief Judicial Magistrate Dalpat Singh Rajpurohit. He pleaded innocence in the case.
To most of the questions asked by the Jodhpur magistrate, Salman Khan answered 'galat'.
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"The chief judicial magistrate Dalpat Singh Rajpurohit asked the star, "You were seen by two people who said they saw you shoot the blackbuck". His said, "galat". The other questions were about the truthfulness of whether his gun was without a licence.", says the report.
When asked about the bloodstains and hair of the backbuck found on his jeep, Salman replied 'false'.
Sonali Bendre, Saif Ali Khan, Salman Khan, Tabu and Neelam were accused of killing blackbucks after a Bishnoi community filed an FIR against them on October 2, 1998.
The other co-accused restricted their answers to "yes" and "no" while pleading innocence but refused to produce any evidence to back their defence when asked by the court.
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"Khan has not committed any crime. After the film's shooting, he used to remain in the hotel. He has been framed in the case and we would produce the evidence in favour of his innocence on the next date," said his counsel H M Saraswat.
The actor said he would provide evidence to back his innocence on the next date of hearing. The court listed February 15 as the next date.
The bollywood star reached the court with other co-accused in the case - Neelam, Tabu, Sonali Bendre and Saif Ali Khan at 11.20 AM. He was in the court for close to one hour and left immediately afer his statement was recorded.
Salman Khan was also accused of carrying and using illegal arms and a case under the Arms Act was registered against him.
January 18, the Jodhpur court had acquitted Salman Khan of all charges in the Arms Act case.
(With inputs from PTI)
