Salman behind bars: Judge scheduled to hear actor's bail plea transferred
The order on Khan's bail plea is expected to be delivered post-lunch today.
By ET Online | Updated:
In the latest development in a 1998 poaching case that has put Salman Khan behind bars, the Jodhpur District and Sessions Court Judge Ravindra Kumar Joshi, who was expected to pronounce the order on the actor's bail plea, has been transferred to Sirohi.
Judge Dev Kumar Khatri, who gave the verdict on the case, sentencing Khan to 5 years in jail, and acquitting his 'Hum Saath Saath Hain' co-stars, has also been transferred.
Judges in Rajasthan are usually transferred between April 15 and 30 every year. This move is part of the annual reshuffle by the Rajasthan High Court. 87 judicial officers have been transferred this year.
Earlier on Friday, Judge Joshi had adjourned the bail hearing to today. He had reportedly asked for more documents, including the files of previous cases heard by rural and High Courts, to go forward with the hearing.
The arguments in Salman's bail plea hearing are scheduled to resume at 10:30 am today.
The actor has already spent two nights in the Jodhpur Central Jail. Today's order will decide whether Khan will be going home or spending the weekend behind bars.
Earlier, the actor's counsel, Mahesh Bora, in his arguments had argued that the accounts of the eyewitnesses were unreliable. He had submitted a 51-page bail plea in which he cited the actor's acquittal in other cases.
Khan had not appeared in court on Friday and had stayed in jail. His sisters, who have been in Jodhpur since day 1, were present in court during the argument.
If granted bail in today's hearing, Khan will be able to return to Mumbai where Bollywood will breathe a sigh of relief, as the 'Race 3' actor has over Rs 600 crore riding on him.
However, if his bail plea is rejected, the actor will have to spend the weekend in jail, till a fresh application can be filed in the Rajasthan High Court.
Earlier on Thursday, Salman Khan's 'Hum Saath Saath Hain' co-stars, Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Tabu and Neelam, also accused in the case, were acquitted of all charges.
Judge Dev Kumar Khatri, who gave the verdict on the case, sentencing Khan to 5 years in jail, and acquitting his 'Hum Saath Saath Hain' co-stars, has also been transferred.
Judges in Rajasthan are usually transferred between April 15 and 30 every year. This move is part of the annual reshuffle by the Rajasthan High Court. 87 judicial officers have been transferred this year.
Earlier on Friday, Judge Joshi had adjourned the bail hearing to today. He had reportedly asked for more documents, including the files of previous cases heard by rural and High Courts, to go forward with the hearing.
The arguments in Salman's bail plea hearing are scheduled to resume at 10:30 am today.
The actor has already spent two nights in the Jodhpur Central Jail. Today's order will decide whether Khan will be going home or spending the weekend behind bars.
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Earlier, the actor's counsel, Mahesh Bora, in his arguments had argued that the accounts of the eyewitnesses were unreliable. He had submitted a 51-page bail plea in which he cited the actor's acquittal in other cases.
Khan had not appeared in court on Friday and had stayed in jail. His sisters, who have been in Jodhpur since day 1, were present in court during the argument.
If granted bail in today's hearing, Khan will be able to return to Mumbai where Bollywood will breathe a sigh of relief, as the 'Race 3' actor has over Rs 600 crore riding on him.
However, if his bail plea is rejected, the actor will have to spend the weekend in jail, till a fresh application can be filed in the Rajasthan High Court.
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Earlier on Thursday, Salman Khan's 'Hum Saath Saath Hain' co-stars, Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Tabu and Neelam, also accused in the case, were acquitted of all charges.
Salman Khan made headlines on Thursday as he was sentenced to five years in prison by a Jodhpur court for his role in the blackbuck killing case of 1998. The Chief Judicial Magistrate, Dev Kumar Khatri, while announcing the verdict, called the actor a 'habitual offender'.
Salman, dressed in a black shirt and jeans, was seen arriving in court wearing dark glasses. He was flanked by his regular bodyguard Shera, even as 200 cops were deployed to provide security outside the court premises.
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