JUDGEMENT
NIRMALJIT KAUR,J. -
(1.) The criminal revision petition under Section 397
read with Section 401 of the Cr.P.C. is preferred by petitioner-Salman
Khan against the judgment dated 24.08.2007 passed by Sessions Judge,
Jodhpur in Criminal Appeal No. 50/2006, whereby, the appeal of the
petitioner was dismissed and the order of conviction and sentence passed
by the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Jodhpur vide judgment dated 10.04.2006
in Criminal Case No. 206/1999 was affirmed. The Chief Judicial Magistrate
convicted and sentenced the petitioner for the offence under Section 51
of the Wild Life (Protection) Act to undergo 5 years' simple imprisonment
along with fine of Rs. 25,000/- and in default of payment of fine to
further undergo 3 months simple imprisonment.
(2.) The State has filed appeal under Section 378(iii) and (i) of the Cr.P.C. against the same judgment dated 24.08.2007 passed by Sessions Judge,
Jodhpur in Criminal Appeal No. 72/2006, vide which, he has set aside the
judgment dated 10.04.2006 passed by the Chief Judicial Magistrate
convicting and sentencing the respondent-Gordhan Singh for offence under
Section 51 read with Section 52 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act in
Criminal Case No. 206/1999 and thereby acquitting Gordhan Singh of the
alleged offence.
(3.) At the first instance, it is necessary to look into the circumstances which led to the registration of the FIR in the present case. On
02.10.1998, an FIR No. 93(26) of 1998 came to be registered with the Forest Department, Jodhpur for the incident of hunting of a black buck,
which had taken place on intervening night of 01.10.1998 and 02.10.1998.
During the investigation of this FIR, one Harish Dulani informed the
Forest Department that dears were also hunted down by some persons just a
few days ago on 26.09.1998 and 28.09.1998. On the basis of the said
information, Lalit Kumar Bora (PW-34), the then Wild Life Conservator,
Jodhpur sent a written complaint to the Additional Superintendent of
Police, Jodhpur bringing to the notice that as per the statement of
Harish Dulani recorded on 02.10.1998, Salman Khan along with others had
indulged in illegal hunting of deers on 26.09.1998 and on 28.09.1998 in
the vicinity of village Mathania about 7 kilometers away from Ghoda Farm.
On the basis of the said complaint sent by Lalit Kumar Bora (PW-34), two
more FIRs came to be registered: (i) FIR No. 162/1998 dated 11.10.1998 at
P.S. Mathania, Jodhpur for hunting of a deer on 26.09.1998 (Criminal Case
No. 207/1999) and (ii) 163/1998 dated 11.10.1998 at P.S. Mathania,
Jodhpur for killing another deer on 28.09.1998 (Criminal Case No.
206/1999). For the incident of hunting which took place on 26.09.1998 and pertains to FIR No. 162/1998, Salman Khan was convicted for the offence
under Section 51 of the Wild Life Protection Act to undergo one year's
simple imprisonment. He preferred an appeal before the Sessions Judge,
Jodhpur, which was transferred to the High Court and was heard by this
Court as S.B. Criminal Appeal No. 53/2012. By a separate order and
judgment of even date, the said appeal of Salman Khan stands allowed and
he is acquitted of tire offence.;
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