Blackbuck case: Salman doesn't appear in court; matter pushed to April 18

Bollywood actor Salman Khan did not appear before the District and Sessions Court in Jodhpur, which was hearing his plea against conviction in the blackbuck case. Since the post of the Judge was vacated, the hearing has now been deferred to April 18.

Jodhpur (Rajasthan): Bollywood actor Salman Khan, who was summoned by a Jodhpur court in connection with the 1998 blackbuck poaching case, failed to appear before it on Saturday. With the Judge hearing the case now being elevated to the High Court, the matter has now been deferred to April 18.

Khan's advocate told the court that the actor could not appear before it as he was busy with a film shoot, adding that his absence would not have an impact on the hearing.

Further, the post of the judge at the District and Sessions Court here was vacated just yesterday. Judge Chandra Kumar Songara, who was hearing Khan's case, has now been elevated as a High Court Judge.

With a new Judge yet to take charge, the reader of the court marked April 18 as the next date of hearing.

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Khan had filed a plea against a lower court conviction, which had convicted sentenced him to five years in jail.

During the previous hearing in September, the defence had argued that Khan's appearance during the hearing was not required and his coming to Jodhpur for it caused disturbance in his work as an actor and also to police who had to undertake adequate arrangements for his security.

The actor was sent to prison for shooting and killing blackbucks in Kankani village near Jodhpur on the night of October 1, 1998, during the shooting of his film, "Hum Saath Saath Hain."

The five co-accused were acquitted, giving them the benefit of doubt.

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