Special court to continue hearing in blackbuck hunting case

JHAJJAR (Haryana): A special court in Haryana has decided to continue its hearing against former Indian cricket captain Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi in connection with black buck hunting case of June 2005 in which he is an accused.

The decision was taken yesterday after Rachna Gupta, presiding officer of the Special Environment Court (Faridabad) decided to begin recording pre-charge framing evidence against the accused including Pataudi and his accomplices during the next hearing slated for December 15.

The proceedings in the trial against Khan were delayed in the last four years due to a legal problem.

"The Jhajjar Police, who were handling the case, had filed the chargesheet as well as complaint together and clubbed it. However, the trial court adopted the proceedings as for a chargesheet case," explained advocate Saurabh Sharma with the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), which has been made a part of the prosecution.

"Challenging the contents of the chargesheet and the technical flaw the defence had brought it to the notice of the sessions Court. However, now the court has ordered the case be continued and be heard as a complaint case," he added.

Pataudi and his accomplices are accused of killing blackbucks (Antilope cervicapra) which is listed as a Schedule I species in the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, according it protection equivalent to that given to the tiger.
If convicted, Patuadi can be awarded imprisonment of up to seven years along with a fine.