A court in Jodhpur has convicted and sentenced actor Salman Khan to 5-year in jail in the 1998 blackbucks poaching case. Chief Judicial Magistrate Dev Kumar Khatri of Jodhpur court acquitted other actors namely Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Neelam and Sonali Bendre in the same case.
Khan – accused of killing two blackbucks- was facing charges under Section 51 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act. He was accused of killing the blackbucks in Bhagoda ki Dhani in Kankani village near Jodhpur on the intervening night of 1-2 October, 1998, during the shooting of “Hum Saath Saath Hain“.
There was a considerable delay in announcing the sentencing even after the judge pronounced Salman guilty in the black buck poaching case. Salman’s legal team hoped that less than three years of sentencing will pave the way for the actor’s bail from the same court. Now that he’s been handed out a 5-year jail term, his legal team will have to approach the session court for the bail. There’s also a likelihood that the Bollywood superstar will have to spend at least some time in jail.
Some news channels had flashed inaccurate news that Salman had been given 2-year jail sentence but this turned out to be untrue. Salman sister, Alvira, had reportedly broken down inside the court after the sentencing.
Earlier today, Salman arrived in the court amidst unprecedented security. His sisters Alvira and Arpita too were with him when he arrived in the court. Emergency response team and women commandoes have been stationed at the court premises, reported NDTV.
LIVE UPDATES:
- Salman Khan gets 5-year in jail, Rs 10,000 fine
- It seems ABP jumped the gun. The court has not yet pronounced the sentencing.
- Salman Khan gets 2-year jail term, reports ABP. He will not be able to get bail from the same court and may not have to spend time in jail.
- Prosecution says that Salman Khan is a habitual offender
- Arguments underway on the quantum of punishment with Salman’s lawyers pleading for less than three years of punishment
- Salman Khan convicted in blackbuck poaching case, other actors acquitted
- Saif Ali Khan arrives in court
Jodhpur: Saif Ali Khan arrives in court, verdict in #BlackBuckPoachingCase to be pronounced shortly. pic.twitter.com/uJNYVviU2V
— ANI (@ANI) April 5, 2018
- Salman Khan tells Jodhpur Court he’s innocent and has been dragged into the case as part of conspiracy, reports ABP