Salman goes back to star life but blackbucks paid with their lives, says PETA on actor's release

Salman Khan was granted bail on Saturday and released from the Jodhpur jail in a 19-year-old blackbuck poaching case, in which the actor was convicted and jailed earlier this week.

The Jodhpur sessions court ruled in favour of Salman Khan's bail plea today afternoon.

Soon after the court granted Salman bail in the blackbuck poaching case, PETA India slammed the actor's release by saying that blackbucks paid the highest price with their lives while the actor gets to go back to his life.

"While Salman Khan gets to go back home to his movie star life for now, blackbucks were made to pay the highest price, with their lives," PETA India said in a statement.

Calling the actor's case "unusual", People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) warned animal abusers to be vary of such offences.

"Meanwhile, PETA India has been involved in the case of a Maharashtra man who killed a langur as his first offense, who has been denied bail a record five times. Salman's case is unusual--these days, wildlife crime matters are commonly fast tracked, bail is often denied, and offenders regularly receive seven-year prison sentences. If animal abusers now expect to get bail easily or to have their cases dragged out, they are in for a major surprise," read the statement.

Salman Khan was sent to the Jodhpur Central Jail on Thursday (April 5) after being convicted and sentenced to a five-year prison term for illegally gunning down two blackbucks in Rajasthan 19 years ago when he was in the state for a film shoot.

Fellow actors Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Tabu and Neelam, all of whom were also accused in the case, were acquitted in the matter. A local named Dushyant Singh, also an accused, was acquitted as well.

Salman's lawyers plan to appeal the actor's conviction and sentencing and had moved the sessions court arguing that Salman should be bailed out of jail until the appeal is decided.

Today, during the arguments over Salman's bail application, the actor's lawyer Mahesh Bora told the court that Salman Khan is innocent and is being framed in the blackbuck poaching case.

Bora also asked the court who would be held responsible for Salman spending time in jail if the blackbuck poaching case conviction was ultimately overturned.