Black Buck Died of “Natural Causes”, Salman Khan Tells Jodhpur HC

He pleaded “not guilty”, citing security reasons for why he could not have been out on the night of 1 October, 1998.

File photo of Salman Khan. (Photo: Reuters)

Bollywood actor Salman Khan and his "Hum Saath-Saath Hain" co-stars Saif Ali Khan, Neelam Kothari, Sonali Bendre and Tabu, pleaded "not guilty" in an 18-year-old blackbuck poaching case in a Jodhpur court on Friday.

The actor said that the black buck died of “natural causes”.

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.

"He (Khan) has not committed any crime. After the film 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 Salman’s counsel Hastimal Saraswat.

Asked about the allegations levelled by the prosecution, the stars pleaded “not guilty”. Salman in his reply said that he couldn’t have gone out poaching due to security reasons, especially in the evenings or night.

All five Bollywood actors are accused of poaching blackbucks on the midnight of October 1-2, 1998, during the shooting of "Hum Saath-Saath Hain".

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

Salman was accused of carrying and using illegal arms too, but recently the CJM court acquitted him of the charges.

(With inputs from IANS)