Blackbuck died of natural causes: Salman Khan

Jaipur: Bollywood actors Salman Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Tabu and Neelam arrived in court in Jodhpur on Friday to record their statements in the blackbuck poaching case. The five are accused of poaching two blackbucks near Kankani village while shooting for Hum Saath Saath Hain near Kankani village in 1998. Salman Khan pleaded not guilty. “I am innocent and falsely implicated by the forest department for the sake of publicity,” the actor said.

"Only the first forensic report of Dr Nepalia saying that the animal died of “natural causes” was true and the rest of the evidence is false,” he said.

Earlier, when the court asked customary questions regarding name, age, residence, religion and caste, the actor said he was Indian.

Interestingly, during the hearing of the Arms Act case on April 29, 2016, the actor had given a similar reply. “I am Salman Khan and I am an Indian,” he had said when asked about his name and caste.

When the judge repeated his question, he also repeated the answer. But, moments later, he told the court that he was Hindu and Muslim, both.

When the judge asked how come, Salman said, “My father is Muslim and mother is Hindu.” The next hearing of the case is now on February 15.