Blackbuck case: Salman Khan sentenced to 5 years in jail; top developments
Actor Salman Khan was found guilty on Thursday in the 1998 blackbuck poaching case and was sentenced to five years in jail. The other four accused stars -- Sonali Bendre, Saif Ali Khan, Tabu and Neelam -- were acquitted of all charges. The trial of the case was in progress since the last 19 years and the judge in a court here had reserved the order after the final arguments on March 28. Arguments were in progress in the court regarding the quantum of punishment for Salman.Salman was accused in the case which took place while he was shooting for the film "Hum SaathSaath Hain" in 1998. Jeev Raksha Bishnoi Sabha has protested against the decision of acquitting the other accused stars. Their acquittal will be challenged in the high court, said Shivraj Bishnoi, state president of the organisation.
All you need to know about blackbuck poaching case 1. April 5: A Jodhpur Court is set deliver the verdict in the 1998 blackbuck poaching case against actor Salman Khan today. Actors Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Tabu and Neelam arrived in Jodhpur on Wednesday to be present for the hearing. 2. What the prosecutors say: “All of them were in a Gypsy car that night, with Salman Khan in the driving seat. He, on spotting a herd of black bucks, shot at and killed two of them,� Public Prosecutor Bhawani Singh Bhati said. 3. Salman Khan's defence Denying these allegations, Salman Khan's counsel H M Saraswat denied allegations by the prosecutor. He said there were several loopholes in the prosecution's story and it had failed to prove its case beyond any doubt. 4. Who is involved in the case?Bollywood actors Sonali Bendre, Saif Ali Khan, Tabu and Neelam are involved in the blackbuck poaching case, while Salman Khan is the main accused. 5. The poaching: The forest department recovered the carcasses of blackbucks after the poaching incident. A forensic report also confirmed that the blood samples obtained from Salman Khan's car matched with the blackbucks. The blackbuck is a species of antelope native to the Indian subcontinent. Since 2003, it has been listed as near threatened by IUCN and considered an endangered species in India. It is protected under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 6. November 11, 2016: Salman Khan was issued notice by the Supreme Court on an appeal by the Rajasthan government challenging his acquittal in blackbuck poaching case. The top court agrees to fast-track the plea. 7. July 25, 2016: The Rajasthan High Court acquitted Salman Khan of all charges in the blackbuck poaching case. The High Court said that there was no evidence to prove that the animals which were found dead were shot by the actor's licensed gun. 8. August 31, 2006: The Rajasthan Court suspended the sentence and ordered the actor to not leave the country without formal permission. 9. April 10, 2006: Salman Khan convicted in the blackbuck hunting case. He was slapped a fine and sentenced to five years of jail. He spent a week in jail in Jodhpur before being granted bail. 10. October 2, 1998: A police complaint was filed against the five actors Salman Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Tabu and Neelam for allegedly killing two blackbucks while they were shooting for the movie Hum Sath Sath Hain in Rajasthan's Jodhpur.Salman Khan has also been accused of killing two chinkaras and a blackbuck in September 1998.