Pleading his innocence, actor Salman Khan on Thursday alleged that he has been framed by forest officials as he recorded his statement in a Jodhpur court in the Arms Act case against him in connection with poaching of protected black bucks at Kankani village in October 1998.
I am innocent and have been framed by forest officials.Salman Khan
Referring to a statement signed by him in which a witness Uday Raghvan had stated that he had brought the arms from Mumbai following directions from Khan, the actor claimed that he had signed the statement under pressure from forest officials.
The court has now fixed 4 April as the next date of hearing.
Additional Public Prosecutor Dinesh Tiwari said that the court has given Khan a chance to produce witnesses or evidence in support of his defence.
If he does so, they will be examined in the court otherwise, the case will be listed for final arguments.Dinesh Tiwari, Additional Public Prosecutor
In his statement, the 50-year-old actor refuted the allegations of two other witnesses, Shiv Charan Bohra, a forest official, and Pandat Vijay Narayan, Mumbai police Inspector.
A complaint was given to the police by forest department on 15 October 1998 claiming that the licences of arms, allegedly in possession of Khan during poaching of black bucks at Kankani village near here on 1-2 October 1998 had expired.
Acting on the complaint, the Luni police had registered a case against Khan under sections 3/25 and 3/27 of Arms Act.
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