Black Buck poaching: Pataudi's associates' bail challenged

The bail granted by a Jhajjar court to the associates of former cricket captain Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi, charged with black buck poaching, has been challenged in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

The petition to cancel their bail has been filed by Rohtak-based Naresh Kadian seeking directions for cancellation of the bail.

The petitioner contended the Jhajjar court did not have the jurisdiction to hear the cases under the Wildlife Protection Act nor could it grant bail to an accused.

Such matters were exclusively within the jurisdiction of the Environment Court set up at Faridabad, the petition said.

After a preliminary hearing, Justice K S Garewal has issued notices for December seven to the state government as also to Pataudi's associates - Shashi Singh, Balwant Singh, Dial Singh and Shahid Ahmed.