JODHPUR: Arguments on the appeal by Salman Khan against a five-year sentence to him for allegedly poaching two blackbucks in the village of Kankani in 1998 began at the sessions court on Tuesday.Beginning the arguments, Salman’s Counsel Mahesh Bora cited the actor’s acquittal by the high court in two other cases of poaching and claimed that the accused has been framed.“There were neither any arguments nor any documents nor any recoveries, which could prove that Salman killed any animal,” argued Bora in the court citing the two other cases.Bora began with the statements of key witness and the driver of the vehicle, allegedly used in poaching, Harish Dulani and the owner of the vehicle Arun Yadav.“The Gypsy, which was said to be used by Khan during poaching, had all the evidences like blood stains and pellets which had been planted,” he argued emphasizing that if they had been there, why was the driver of the Gypsy unable to find them.He further argued that the police officer Satyamani Tiwari, who said to have searched Salman’s room for fire arms and claimed to have recovered them, was also a false witness as his statements had many gaps.The arguments lasted for over three hours in two parts and would now continue on August 3 and 4.The state government had also challenged Salman’s acquittal in a case against him under the Arms Act in the same court. Now, on allowing the prayer of the defence, both the appeals have been clubbed and will be heard simultaneously.“First the arguments on Kankani poaching case would be completed and after that, arguments on state’s appeal would begin,” said the public prosecutor Pokar Ram Bishnoi.Khan had been sentenced to five years by the trial court on April 5 for poaching two blackbucks in Kankani between 1 and 2 October, 1998 and was granted bail on April 7 by the sessions court allowing his appeal against the sentence.

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