A Jodhpur court on Thursday convicted Salman Khan in the 1998 blackbuck killing case. His ‘Hum Saath Saath Hain’ co-stars, Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Sonali Bendre, Neelam were, however, acquitted in the same case. A fifth person, Dushyant Singh, a local businessman from the area, has also been acquitted.
Chief Judicial Magistrate Dev Kumar Khatri, while pronouncing the verdict in the case that had been under way for 20 years, called the actor a 'habitual offender'. Judge Khatri ruled that hence the actor has been convicted, while the others have been given the benefit of the doubt.
The quantum of punishment in store for the actor will be announced later. Arguments on the punishment are under way.
Khan's lawyers are currently a
rguing for probation and pleading for minimum sentence. If the actor's bail plea gets rejected, the actor may have to spend prison time till Monday, when he can re-apply for bail.
Khan may have to serve 6 years in prison, as he faces charges under Section 51 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act. The other actors were charged under Section 51 read with Section 149 (unlawful assembly) of the Indian Penal Code.
It was a long legal battle between the Bishnoi community, who are committed towards protecting the species, and the Bollywood stars.
The incident happened when the stars were shooting for Sooraj Barjatya's family drama 'Hum Saath Saath Hain.'
From left, Sonali Bendre, Saif Ali Khan and Tabu.
Final arguments of the case were completed in the trial court on March 28.
Reactions poured in on Twitter:
Judge: Why did you come to Jodhpur in 1998. Salman Khan: To shoot... Judge: You have confessed. GUILTY. Salman Khan… https://t.co/ZFydcQn38B
