Salman Khan and six others, including four co-stars, have been charged with killing of two rare blackbucks by a sessions court.
The charges were read out to Salman Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Neelam, Sonali Bendre, Dushyant Singh and Dinesh Ghaware for the killings during the filming of 'Hum Saath Saath Hain' in 1998.
Salman was charged under the Indian Penal Code, Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and Indian Arms Act, while the others were charged under Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, for being party to the killing.
"All the accused have pleaded innocence," said Hastimal Saraswat, counsel for the film stars.
The accused, who were all present in the court, said that they were ready for trial and sought exemptions from hearings.
"We have sought exemptions from hearings for the film actors," Saraswat said.
The Rajasthan forest department had lodged a case against Salman and others that two black bucks were allegedly killed at Kakani in Luni block of the district on October 1 and 2, 1998.
The police had filed a charge sheet in 2000.
The court on February 20 had observed that there is prima facie evidence against the seven accused and had framed charges against them.
{{/usCountry}}The court on February 20 had observed that there is prima facie evidence against the seven accused and had framed charges against them.
{{/usCountry}}On February 17, a court in Jodhpur had found Salman guilty in the chinkara killing case and rendered him one-year imprisonment along with a fine of Rs 5,000.
The sentence was suspended for a month so that the actor could file an appeal in a higher court.