Raj HC to hear Salman's bail petition

Jodhpur, Aug 31: The Rajasthan High Court will hear bail plea of Bollywood actor Salman Khan in connection with the 1998 Chinkara poaching case.

Calling for the case records, Justice H R Panwar had deferred the hearing on Thursday.

Justice Gopal Krishna Vyas on Wednesday recused himself from hearing the plea on grounds of "judicial propriety".

Following which the actor's case was listed in the court of Justice H R Panwar.

Salman's lawyers have approached the court and sought a suspension of his five-year jail sentence.

Salman was taken into custody on August 25 after his appeal against a lower court order was turned down by a Jodhpur court.

Salman, who was convicted on April 10, 2006, is presently lodged in Jodhpur Central jail. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on him.

The actor has been charged with poaching two Chinkaras at Ujiyala Bhakhar near Ghoda Farm.

Bollywood actors Saif Ali Khan, Satish Shah, Sonali Bendre, Tabu and Neelam Kothari have been acquitted in the case.

Salman has also been sentenced to a year's imprisonment in another poaching case at Bhawad. He has appealed against this as well.

The case is pending before the Rajasthan High Court. The State Government has called for an enhancement of sentence.

ANI
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