Salman Khan verdict: Salman Khan was convicted in one of the cases in 2006 and was sentenced to five years in jail. (File Photo)
Salman Khan blackbuck poaching case: A Jodhpur court on Thursday convicted actor Salman Khan in the 1998 blackbuck poaching case and handed him a five-year jail term, while acquitting co-accused Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Neelam and Tabu due to lack of strong evidence against them. A fifth person, Dushyant Singh, a local who was allegedly accompanying the actors when the poaching took place, has also been acquitted, Mahipal Bishnoi, the prosecution counsel, said. Salman was also imposed a fine of Rs 10,000. The actor’s lawyers approached the court for his bail plea, which was later accpeted. Hearing of the bail plea will take place around 10:30 am on Friday.
In photos: Salman Khan found guilty in blackbuck poaching case
Salman was accused of killing two blackbucks on October 2, 1998 in Kankani village in Jodhpur during the shooting of “Hum Saath Saath Hain”. The trial of the case has been in progress for the last 19 years and Judge Dev Kumar Khatri reserved the order after the final arguments on March 28. Salman, who has been charged under Section 51 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, may face six years imprisonment.
READ | Salman Khan convicted, Saif and others acquitted by Jodhpur court in blackbuck poaching case
Salman was convicted in one of the cases in 2006 and was sentenced to five years in jail. While the actor spent a week in jail, the sentence was suspended by the Rajasthan High Court. The actor was also booked under the Arms Act as the licence of the gun he allegedly used while hunting had expired. However, the charges were later dropped due to lack of evidence.
READ | Celebrities react as Salman Khan gets 5-year jail term
"The verdict shows, whether you are Salman Khan or an ordinary citizen, the facts will be heard by a court and the law will prevail," PETA India spokesperson Sachin Bangera said.
Animal right groups today welcomed the sentencing of Bollywood star Salman Khan in a 1998 blackbuck killing case, asserting the verdict proved no one was above the law, while a section of activists said the actor should have been given the maximum punishment under the Wildlife Act.
Recap: Bollywood actor Salman Khan was on Thursday sentenced to five years imprisonment by a Jodhpur court for killing two blackbucks during a film shoot in Rajasthan in 1998. The court also slapped him with a fine of Rs 10,000. Khan was then taken to Jodhpur Central Jail for the night. The court also acquitted all the other accused including Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Neelam and Tabu; citing lack of evidence. Read More
Fans and fame have not deserted Salman through the decades, notwithstanding the many ups and downs in his personal life.
"I don't know how to react. I am numb. I hope he stays strong. His fans will always love him," said a young fan, standing outside the actor's home in Mumbai.
In 2002, his former girlfriend, actor Aishwarya Rai (now Bachchan), accused him of harassment after they broke up in March that year. Aishwarya alleged that Salman was unable to come to terms with the split and would constantly call her and pound on her door in an inebriated state. She accused him of "physical, verbal and emotional" abuse.
Salman Khan had earlier spent a total of 18 days in the jail in 1998, 2006 and 2007, all for cases of poaching.
"Salman Khan has been given number 106 and is lodged in Ward number 2. He was made to undergo a medical test and has no medical issues. He hasn't made any demands. We will give him jail uniform tomorrow. Multiple-layer security has been put up for his ward," said Vikram Singh, Jodhpur DIG(Jail). (Source: ANI photo)
Chogaram Bishnoi, a member of the community said that he had seen Khan stopping his jeep and shooting the two blackbuck deer in a village near Jodhpur in October 1998. Khan and the other actors were in the area filming a movie and decided to go hunting.
Salman Khan has landed in prison for a fifth time on charges ranging from killing deer to a man sleeping on a Mumbai pavement.
Salman Khan in Jodhpur Central Jail premises. (Source: Express photo byVarinder Chawla)
Salman Khan's lawyer Anand Desai in a statement said, "We respect the decision of the Hon'ble Court. While we are studying the judgement, it just came as a surprise, as the entire investigation and facts of this case were the same as those for which Salman has been acquitted by the Hon'ble High Court of Rajasthan in two cases, and even by the Hon'ble CJM in the Arms Act matter for the alleged offence on the very same night as is the subject matter of the present case. Also, in the present case, the Hon'ble Court has acquitted all the 5 co-accused which would imply that Salman was out hunting alone in the middle of the night in a remote area outside Jodhpur. We have preferred an appeal to the Hon'ble Sessions Court and applied for an urgent hearing today. The Hon'ble Sessions Court will hear the appeal for suspension of the sentence/ bail at 10.30 am tomorrow."
"We are happy for us but we are disappointed for Salman Khan. Justice has not been given properly in this case. I am feeling bad for him," said Samir Soni, actor and husband of actress Neelam. (Source: ANI photo)
Bishnoi community people celebrate after a Jodhpur court declared 5-year Jail-term to Salman Khan, in Jodhpur on Thursday. (Source: APH IMAGES)
Bollywood actor Salman Khan taken to Jodhpur Central Jail on Thursday. (Photo:APH IMAGES)
The Jodhpur Sessions Court has accepted Salman Khan's bail plea in blackbuck poaching case, hearing in the bail application to take place tomorrow.
Actor-turned-politician and Rajya Sabha MP Jaya Bachchan expressed sadness over Salman Khan verdict and said, "I feel bad. He should be given relief. He has done a lot of humanitarian work." (Source: ANI photo)
Bollywood actor Salman Khan, his sisters Alwira khan and Arpita Khan, actor Saif Ali Khan, Tabu and Sonali Bendre at the Jodhpur court before it announced the verdict in the blackbuck poaching case. (Photo:APH IMAGES/Exclusive)
Salman Khan walks out of Jodhpur court. He is currently being taken to Jodhpur Central Jail. Meanwhile, Salman Khan's lawyers have moved a bail application in sessions court. The sessions court lawyer is awaiting the order from the Jodhpur court before adjudicating on the issue.
Salman Khan will be taken straight to Jodhpur Central jail, where Asaram Bapu is lodged in a rape case. In August 2013, Asaram was arrested by the Rajasthan police for allegedly sexually assaulting a minor girl at his Jodhpur ashram. Salman's lawyers plan to move the sessions court as well as the Rajasthan High Court for bail. If the bail application is not heard today, the actor will have to spend the night in jail today.
Following reports of the 5-year jail sentence handed to Salman Khan, people from the Bishnoi community could be heard cheering on loudly outside the court premises. As the actor has been sentenced to more than three years in prison, Salman's legal team will have to approach the Rajasthan High Court. He may have to spend the night in Jodhpur jail.
Jodhpur court awards five-year jail term for Salman Khan in the 1998 blackbuck poaching case and imposes a fine of Rs 10,000. The actor's lawyers will now approach the Rajasthan High Court for bail. For now, Salman will be taken to Jodhpur Central jail.
Quantum of sentence for Salman Khan in the blackbuck poaching case is likely to be pronounced at 2 pm. Judge Dev Kumar Khatri will pronounce the sentence after he convicted Salman Khan in the case, while acquitting the other four co-accused - actor Saif Ali Khan, Neelam, Tabu and Sonali Bendre. A fifth person, Dushyant Singh, a local who was allegedly accompanying the actors when the poaching took place, has also been acquitted.
The most famous story belonging to the community is the one of Amrita Devi. It is believed the roots of the modern Chipko movement originated from here. Devi sacrificed her life in order to save the Khejri trees after soldiers had come to cut them. She hugged on to the tree even as soldiers felled it, killing her in the process. Her gesture encouraged others in her village and they all did the same thing and ran to hug a tree. Until there was an order to stop the cutting of trees, 363 Bishnois lost their lives.
The Bishnoi community of Rajasthan has, over the centuries, committed themselves to the conservation of forests, trees and wild animals. In fact, it is their only way of life. Spotted deer, blackbuck and nilgais can be seen roaming fearlessly in their fields. Even if the crop is consumed by herds of deer, the Bishnois do not chase away the animals. The spiritual leader of the Bishnois is Guru Jambheshwar. Bishnoi actually means the people of 29 rules (Bish - 20, Noi - 9). The Bishnoi religion is based on the 29 rules as told by Guru Jambheshwar.
Rampal Bhawad, state president of Bishnoi Tigers Vanya Evam Paryavaran Sanstha, said the outfit would immediately appeal against the acquittal of four other actors - Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Neelam and Sonali Bendre - in the blackbuck poaching case. Bhawad also demanded maximum punishment of six years imprisonment for Salman Khan, who has been found guilty. A fifth person, Dushyant Singh, a local who was allegedly accompanying the actors when the poaching took place, has also been acquitted. "We'll analyse the judgement. We want an immediate appeal to be filed against those who have been acquitted and we also demand maximum punishment for Salman Khan," Rampal Bhawad said. The quantum of sentence for Salman will be pronounced by Jodhpur court judge Dev Kumar Khatri after lunch.
Soon after the court’s verdict was out, social media erupted with reactions – which ranged from utter shock to hailing the judiciary for ‘justice delivered’. There were also questions raised as to how only Salman Khan had been convicted, while the others were let off Scott free. Here is how netizens reacted.
The public prosecutor has said arguments over the quantum of sentence is over and the judge Dev Kumar Khatri would pronounce it today itself after lunch. The prosecutor said they had applied for the maximum jail term of six years under the Wildlife Protection Act. Meanwhile, the other accused in the blackbuck poaching case — Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Tabu, Neelam — have left the Jodhpur court premises after the judge acquitted them.
The case has been dragging on for 19 years and has gone through several twists and turns. The media is waiting outside the heavily guarded court premises as arguments for the quantum of sentencing are continuing inside the courtroom. Here is how the case progressed.
The Bishnoi community of Rajasthan has expressed displeasure over the acquittal of Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Neelam and Sonali Bendre. A member said they would appeal against the acquittal of the four co-accused in the black buck poaching case. He said they would approach the state forest department to appeal against the acquittal and would send a representation to the government.
The final arguments in the case were completed in the trial court on March 28 this year, following which Chief Judicial Magistrate Dev Kumar Khatri reserved the judgment for today. During the final arguments, the prosecution counsel had described the spot of alleged poaching, citing the statements of witnesses Poonam Chand and Chhoga Ram and the post-mortem report, which nailed Salman Khan.
NS Solanki, lawyer of Dushyant Singh who was co-accused in blackbuck poaching case, said Salman Khan's counsel were praying for probation. "Argument on quantum of punishment is on. Salman Khan's counsels are praying for probation," Solanki said. The prosecution has demanded maximum punishment for Salman Khan. The actor will be taken to Jodhpur Central Jail, which currently houses inmates like Asaram Bapu, Malkhan Singh Vishnoi and Shambhu Lal Regar. The latter two are accused in the Bhanwari Devi abduction case and the Rajasthan hacking case, respectively. Regar had allegedly killed a West Bengal labourer on the pretext of love jihad.
Arguments currently underway on quantum of sentence. Salman Khan's lawyer pleads for minimum sentence. If the court pronounces more than three years in prison for the actor, Salman will have to approach a higher court for bail but if it is less than three years, the actor can apply for bail in the same court.
Salman Khan found guilty in blackbuck poaching case. Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Neelam and Sonali Bendre acquitted in the case. Salman has been convicted under Section 51 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act. The Act entails a maximum of six years imprisonment.
Hearing begins in Jodhpur court. The trial of the case has been in progress for the last 20 years and Judge Dev Kumar Khatri reserved the order after the final arguments on March 28
Salman Khan, along with Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendra and Tabu, has arrived in court. Court proccedings will begin at 11.15 am.
The last time Salman made so much news in a legal case was probably during the verdict of the 2002 hit-and-run case. The actor was acquitted in December 2015. The actor had allegedly run over a group of people who were sleeping in a pavement in Mumbai on 28 September, 2002. One person was killed and four others were injured. On May 2, 2013, a court held Salman prima facie guilty of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and rejected his plea to drop the charge before framing charges against him.
Salman Khan has left for the court. The proceedings in the matter will begin shortly.
Salman Khan, who has always maintained innocence, had said in an interview with NDTV in 2009 that he had only fed the blackbuck and did not shoot at it. Narrating an incident that happened after shooting got over for the movie “Hum Saath Saath Hain”, Khan said, "We (Saif, Sonali, Neelam, Tabu) saw a deer fawn, stuck in a bush and he was petrified. I took him out of there, gave him some water. The whole pack was there. He ate a few biscuits and then went away".