Ahead of his hearing in the blackbuck poaching case, the Rajasthan High Court has exempted actor Salman Khan from appearing in person before a sessions court in Jodhpur. The court will be hearing his appeal against a five-year sentence in the case on February 6 and the actor will appear through video conferencing.

A Jodhpur bench of the high court accepted his counsel’s argument that travelling to Jodhpur from Mumbai amid the pandemic may pose threat to the actor’s health and also admitted that his appearance may attract a huge gathering in the court premises. 

“Salman’s personal appearance leads to a huge crowd in the Sessions Court premises, causing not only law and order problems but other litigants to face trouble. Due to the outbreak of COVID-19, there is a risk of infection from the crowd. After hearing our arguments, the division bench allowed the petitioner to execute and submit bail bond and sureties through video conferencing,” said the actor’s counsel Hastimal Saraswat, Hindustan Times reported. 

The division bench has, however, refused to intervene on the actor’s plea that Section 437A of Criminal Procedure Code (CRPC) be held unconstitutional.

“Salman is exempt from physical appearance, but the division bench has not interfered in the plea declaring Section 437A of the CrPC unconstitutional,” Additional Advocate General Farzand Ali said.