The Gujarat High Court Friday adjourned the hearing of Bollywood actor Aamir Khan and four others in a case of allegedly filming chinkara gazelle (a protected species) in his film "Lagaan". Justice Harshaben Devani postponed the hearing to May 9.

A Bhuj court issued bailable arrest warrants against Aamir, his ex-wife Reena, film director Ashutosh Gowarikar, executive director Srinivas Rao and photographer Ashok Mehta March 27, 2008, for filming chinkara gazelle at Jam Kunaria village in Kutch in 2000.

On April 11, the high court postponed the hearing to April 25.

Aamir has not presented himself before the Bhuj court despite several notices sent to him.

He approached the high court pleading for a stay on the Bhuj court's proceedings and contended that no chinkara had been filmed in his movie. The controversial scene in "Lagan" was created using computer graphics, the actor said.

Assistant conservator of forests J.R. Vyas had lodged a complaint with the Bhuj court against Aamir for failing to appear before the authorities despite repeated notices being sent since August 2006. The court then issued bailable warrants against all the five.

Justice Devani stayed the lower court proceedings April 11 and also the execution of the bailable arrest warrants issued against the actor. The court also issued notice to the state forest department.