Earlier this year in February, Salman Khan had filed an appeal, challenging the Rajasthan HC’s verdict, which was passed in April 2018, sentencing Khan for 5 years imprisonment in the 1998 Blackbuck poaching case. However, his hearing date was postponed to April 3. So, Salman’s plea will finally be heard in the court today.
In April 2018, while others accused in the case- Saif, Tabu, Neelam and Sonali Bendre were acquitted of all charges by the court, Salman was charged under Section 51 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act and others under Section 51 read with Section 149 (unlawful assembly) of the Indian Penal Code. As a result he was sentenced to five years in prison. Khan had even spent two nights- April 5 and 6, in Jodhpur central jail, following which he was released on bail.
Talking about the 1998 Blackbuck poaching case, Salman and Hum Saath Saath Hain co-stars Saif Ali Khan, Neelam, Tabu, Sonali Bendre and Monish Bahl, allegedly went on a hunt and killed an endangered species of blackbuck. This happened when the crew was shooting for a segment of the film in Jodhpur. There were mass protests by the Bishnoi community of the area, and finally a case was lodged against the actors.
Coming to his hearing today, Salman and his family must be hoping for a positive development in the case. The actor has a lot of money riding on him with big projects like Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Inshallah with Alia Bhatt, Bharat with Katrina Kaif, Dabangg 3, for which Khan is currently shooting in Indore.
Image Source:Youtube,Livemint
Image Source:Youtube,Livemint