In a setback to film actor Salman Khan, the Supreme Court today declined to entertain his plea in connection with a case relating to black buck hunting registered against him and four other Bollywood stars, including Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Sonali Bendre and Neelam.

Salman had approached the court contending that the statement of prime witness Harish Dulani could not be accepted as evidence as he had not made himself available for cross-examination.

However, a Bench comprising Justice A K Bhan and Justice L S Panta declared his petition as dismissed as withdrawn and asked him to approach the Rajasthan High Court with his grievances.

Salman had accused the prosecution of intentionally not producing Dulani for cross-examination contending that he was a false witness who had fabricated a case for the police.

Senior advocate Rajeev Dhavan, appearing for the actor, had challenged the order of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Jodhpur, who had stated that the court could exercise its powers to ask questions to accused with respect to the deposition made by Durani.

The Jodhpur Court on February 27 had framed charges against Salman, Saif and actresses Sonali Bendre, Neelam, Tabu and two others relating to alleged poaching of two black bucks at Kankani village on the intervening night of Oct 1 and 2, 1998 .

The charges were framed against Salman, the main accused, under provisions of the Wildlife Protection Act that bans hunting of black buck and Section 147 of the Indian Penal Code.