Supreme Court dismisses plea against Salman Khan

New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India on Thursday dismissed the Rajasthan government's plea against superstar Salman Khan in the black buck shooting case dating back to October 1998, during the shooting of the film, Hum Saath Saath Hain.

Khan's other colleagues who were caught with him under section 52 ( Attempts to contravene, or abet the contravention of, any of the provisions of this Act) of Wildlife Act and section 149 of IPC, included actors Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Neelam and Sonali Bendre Sources said the veteran actor was supposed to go the US to get a medical check-up but later decided to postpone the visit because of the hearing.

A friend close to Khan said although his pain has subsided, his family still wanted him to go for the check-up. The apex court's decision will give a huge relief to Khan. In July last year, the Rajasthan High Court revised the charges against the actor and his colleagues in the case, paving the way for a trial in the case. Disposing the state government's plea against a sessions court order to drop some of the charges, the high court said that Khan

would be charges under Section 51 of Wildlife Act and Section 149 of IPC (Unlawful assembly). The actors were accused of poaching two black bucks in Kankani village near Jodhpur on the nights of October 1 and 2. All of them had appeared in the court on June 19, 2006.