CJM court gives Khan benefit of doubt; state to study verdict and then decide future course of action.
Mayur Lookhar
It took only a few minutes for Salman Khan to walk out a free man, as the Jodhpur chief judicial magistrate court acquitted him in the 1998 Arms Act case in connection with the alleged black buck poaching case.
Giving Khan the benefit of doubt, the Jodhpur chief judicial magistrate acquitted him in the Arms Act case. He had been charged under two counts — Section 3/25 and 3/27 of the Act.
Speaking to reporters, the public prosecutor said, "Giving him the benefit of doubt, the court has acquitted Khan in the Arms Act case."
He added that the government will study the verdict and accordingly the next option for the state would be to appeal in the Rajasthan high court.
As per reports on TV channels, Khan stated in his defence that the guns in possession with him were air guns. Khan's defence lawyer stated that justice had been done.
If convicted in the charges Section 3/25 and Section 3/25 of the Arms Act, Khan would have got up to five years in prison for illegal possession of arms. Khan was also charged under Section 3/27 of the Arms Act wherein the court was to decide whether the actor used these arms to kill a black buck. Had he been convicted under Section 3/27, Khan would have faced up to seven years in jail.
