Blackbuck poaching case: Salman Khan, Sonali Bendre, Saif Ali Khan in Jodhpur for hearing today

Source:- india.com

Jodhpur, Jan 27: Days after having been acquitted in the Arms Act case, actor Salman Khan is back in Jodhpur, now for hearing in the black buck poaching case on Friday. Actors Sonali Bendre and Saif Ali Khan have also reportedly reached Jodhpur for hearing the same case.

Actors Tabu, Neelam and one Dushyant Singh have also been asked to appear in the case, linked to the killing of a blackbuck 18 years ago, during the shoot of their film Hum Saath Saath Hain in 1998. While the prosecution witnesses have already recorded their statements, the accused actors will record their statements on Friday in court.

The case hearing was earlier scheduled for January 25. However, Salman and other actors had requested the court for exemption from being present. Defence Counsel KK Vyas had said that the police were unable to provide adequate security to the actors in the court on account of the presence of the chief minister and the governor in the city for Republic Day celebrations.The court had accepted their pleas and exempted them from being present, posting the case hearing to January 27.

The Timeline

Salman allegedly went on a shooting expedition with Saif Ali Khan, Neelam, Sonali Bendre and Tabu, killing two blackbucks in Kankani village during the shooting of Sooraj Barjatya’s Hum Saath Saath Hain in September 1998. This had led to protests by the local Bishnoi community, following which a case was filed against Salman and the other actors and also a local named Dushyant Singh.

In 2006, Salman was convicted by the trial court and and was handed sentences of one and five years respectively in two separate cases of blackbuck poaching.

After he served his sentence in the Jodhpur Central Jail in April 2006 and August 2007, the Rajasthan High Court suspended his sentence in 2007. However, the court ordered the actor not to leave India without a formal permission.

In November 2013, the Rajasthan High Court stayed his sentence, allowing him to travel to the UK. In November 2014, the Rajasthan government approached the Supreme Court against the decision of the court, allowing him a UK Visa.

In November 2014, the actor requested the Supreme Court to allow him to travel to the UK for his shooting. The Supreme Court, however, had reserved its order on the request.

In July 2016, Salman was acquitted by the Rajasthan High Court in the case, following which the Rajasthan government had moved the Supreme Court saying the actor must surrender and be jailed in the two poaching cases.

Last week, Salman Khan walked free in the Arms Act Case after the Jodhpur court acquitted him after over 19 years.