Rajasthan govt challenges Salman Khan's acquittal in Arms Act case, files petition in court

Jodhpur: The Rajasthan government on Tuesday filed a petition in the Jodhpur District and Sessions Court, challenging a lower court's order that acquitted Bollywood actor Salman Khan in the Arms Act case.

The court has accepted the petition and issued a notice to the actor. Hearing in the case is scheduled for the April 21.

Arguing on the appeal, Public Prosecutor Pokar Ram Bishnoi criticised the order of the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) saying the trial court overlooked many material facts of the case.

"The sessions judge, while admitting the appeal, has posted the matter for further hearing on April 21," Bishnoi told IANS over phone.

The CJM's court in January this year had acquitted Salman of the charges of illegal possession and use of arms during alleged poaching of two black bucks in village Kankani near Jodhpur on October 1-2, 1998.

As per the court, the prosecution failed to prove beyond doubt that the accused had the weapons in his possession without valid licence or used them for hunting on the night between October 1 and October 2 in 1998.

Salman was accused of keeping a revolver and a rifle whose licences had expired in his possession and using them for hunting while he was in Jodhpur in 1998.

The actor, alongwith Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Neelam and Tabu were in Jodhpur for the shooting of the movie 'Hum Saath Saath Hain'.