Salman Khan arrested

JAIPUR, Oct 12 (UNI) — Actor Salman Khan was today arrested in Jodhpur in connection with the killing of two endangered black bucks and an antelope in Guda Vishnoiyon and the adjoining region of Jodhpur district recently.

Rajasthan Forest Department officials arrested the Bollywood actor under the Protection of Wildlife Act after his application for bail was rejected by the Jodhpur District and Sessions Judge.

The judge, however, granted anticipatory bail to another actor, Saif Ali Khan, involved in the poaching of the protected fauna.

State Additional Advocate-General K.L. Jasmatiya pleaded the prosecution case while senior advocate and former Union Deputy Minister Jagdeep Dhankar appeared for the defendants.

Salman Khan will be produced before the magistrate.

According to reports received here, Salman Khan has now moved the High Court for seeking anticipatory bail.

According to Forest Department sources, the two actors accompanied by actresses, Sonali Bendre, Tabbu and Neelam Kothari, had allegedly killed two black bucks and one antelope in Guda Bishnoiyon Mathania and the adjoining region in Jodhpur between September 26 and October 1.

The three actresses were arrested on October 9 and released on bail the same night with a directive to appear before the court today.

Salman and Saif Ali had secured interim anticipatory bail till today.

The five Bollywood personalities were summoned by Forest Department officials for interrogation on October 9 in Jodhpur from where the three actresses were arrested.

Meanwhile, the illegal poaching by the celebrities has evoked sharp protests from different quarters.

A number of organisations today staged a dharna outside the high court premises in Jodhpur.

The Tourist and Wild Life Society of India (TWSI) held a procession in Jaipur yesterday to press for stringent action against the guilty.

The Natures Club of Rajasthan had also lodged protests against the hunting of the endangered species.

The Bishnoi Samaj has threatened that it will launch an agitation if the guilty are not punished in an appropriate manner.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhairon Singh Shekhawat had reviewed the matter here yesterday and constituted a high-level team to expedite investigations and action in the case.