JODHPUR — Bollywood actor Salman Khan today appeared in a court here to record his statement in an Arms Act case related to shooting of black bucks.
Khan appeared before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Anupama Bijlani and pleaded innocence, Salman's counsel H M Saraswat said. According to a report by DNA, the actor said he had been framed.
"Court gave us time to present our side on May 4," he said.
Salman was accompanied by bodyguard Shera and sister Alvira.
When asked to name his community, the actor reportedly replied: "My mother is Hindu, my father a Muslim, hence I am an Indian."
My #mother is a #Hindu, my father a #Muslim hence I am an #Indian:Salman Khan tells #Jodhpur court when asked to name his community #ArmsAct
— ABP News (@abpnewstv) April 29, 2015
Earlier one of the actor's bouncers had an argument with the police at the entrance of the court when police stopped him from entering the courtroom.
A case had been registered against Khan by the forest department under the Arms Act mentioning that licence of the arms used by Khan during his alleged poaching of black bucks at village Kankani near Jodhpur on the intervening night of 1-2 October, 1998, had expired and hence the actor had been using the arms illegally.
The black buck is a protected animal.
On April 23, the Chief Judicial Magistrate had accepted an application moved by Khan's counsel seeking exemption from his appearance in the court on the ground of ill health, and asked him to appear today to record his statement.
Khan is also involved in a 13-year-old hit-and-run case in which he has been charged with culpable homicide and rash, negligent driving. The incident, which occurred in Mumbai's suburb of Bandra in September 2002, resulted in the death of one person and injured four as Khan's vehicle crashed into a shop.
In recent times, the actor has pleaded not guilty, claiming that he was not driving the car and denying that he had consumed any alcohol despite visiting two bars.
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