Blackbuck case: Salman directed toattenddayhearing

Refusing to hear the arguments in the actor's absence, District and Sessions Judge BL Sharma, while adjourning the matter till September 20, directed the counsel of Khan to ensure that he appears in court on that day.

The court which began hearing on Khan's appeal after a four-year delay directed that the matter will be heard on day-to-day basis and sought an assurance from Khan's lawyers that the actor would appear in the court till a decision is reached.

Though the counsel for Khan sought exemption from personal appearance citing law and order issues, the court was unmoved.

Khan's lawyers also contended that it is not required that the petitioner be present in the court during hearing of appeal but the judge said that since it is a matter of sentence suspension, the accused has to be present in the court during the hearing on his appeal.

Public Prosecutor Ram Sukh Sharma said that Khan had sought exemption from presence in the court.

He said that the court has asked Khan's counsel to make sure that he remains present in the court as long as the hearing continues.

"The court will now go for day-to-day hearing hearing" from September 20, he said.

Khan had filed the appeal on March 9, 2006 challenging his conviction under the Wild Life Protection Act by the Chief Judicial Magistrate on February 17, 2006 in the case of poaching oftwo black bucks in Bhawad near here on September 26, 1998 during the shooting of film 'Hum Saath Saath Hain'.

Seven other accused in the case, including actor Satish Shah, were acquitted.

The appellate court suspended the sentence on March 10, 2006 but before the hearing on the appeal could progress, the state government filed a revision petition in the high court terming the sentence as inadequate and challenging the acquittal of others.

Following this, the case documents were sent to the high court, leading to the delay in the hearing.

The court in Rajasthan, which is hearing Salman's plea challenging his conviction in the Black Buck poaching case in 1998, has asked him to attend court sessions personally from September 20 till the verdict of the case is decided.

Salman's family is said to be shocked at the developments as the actor is yet to complete his upcoming film and has at least Rs 150 crore riding on him in the next two months.

His lawyers have already gone into a huddle trying to salvage the situation for the actor.

"The judge has ordered a day-to-day hearing, which means that the matter will be heard everyday by the court till the court takes a final decision. District and Sessions Judge BL Sharma has adjourned the matter till September 20 and has refused to hear the matter in Salman's absence. He has directed Khan's counsel to ensure that he appears in court on that day," says a source.

The court has sought an assurance from Salman's lawyers on the issue. Apparently, Salman's lawyers tried to argue that it might become a law and order issue which the judge dismissed.

Public Prosecutor Ram Sukh Sharma of Jodhpur Court also confirmed the judge's has dismissed the actor's exemption plea.
Family sources say that Salman's lawyer is filing an appeal for exemption again and might go to a higher court with the plea.