In his affidavit submitted in the Supreme Court recently, Salman Khan argues for a stay on his five-year conviction in 2006 in the Black Bucks shooting case and contends that he is one of the highest tax payers in the country and it is his fundamental right to practise his occupation, which involves travelling all over the world for film shooting. The case come up for hearing in the Supreme court next week.

UK had denied him a visa when he wanted to shoot 'Kick', because of his criminal conviction. Under UK laws, a person can't get the visa if he is convicted of an offence for four years or more.

He subsequently obtained a stay on his conviction from the Rajasthan high court. But the Rajasthan government filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) against the high court order for cancelling the stay on Salman's conviction, on the technical ground that the high court cannot grant a stay on a case under Wildlife Protection Act.

"I am one of the highest individual tax payers in India... I am a philanthropist and associated with a charitable trusts. My professional engagements generate taxable revenue and help in bringing in foreign exchange for India... My professional engagements as an established film actor also help in promoting the Indian film industry globally and for generating employment for the entertainment industry in India and encouraging cross cultural collaboration between film makers across the world,'' Salman argues.

Salman petition says that the court had accepted his submission that it was his fundamental right to carry any occupation or business.

Salman had been convicted and sentenced to five year jail term under the Wildlife Protection Act by a Jodhpur magistrate court in 2006 and the same was upheld by the sessions court in 2007.

In August 31, 2007 while hearing his appeal, the high court had suspended his sentence but imposed a condition that the accused will not leave the country without prior permission of the court.

However, in November last year, the high court had altered its previous condition over his travel abroad and stayed the conviction after accepting his submission that he was not able to obtain a visa for shooting the film 'Kick' as UK Border Agency had not given entry clearance due to the conviction order.

The delay had further caused huge monetary loss to the producer and also delay in completion of the movie, he said.

A complaint was filed against actors Saif Ali Khan, Neelam, Tabu and Sonali Bendre, besides, Salman Khan on charges of being involved in hunting of protected blackbucks.

The actors were accused of poaching two black bucks in Kankvillage near Jodhpur in October 1998. The alleged incident happened during the shooting of the film 'Hum Saath Saath Hain'.