Actor Salman Khan was convicted today by a Jodhpur Court in the 1998 blackbuck poaching case. The other accused were acquitted.
Actors Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Neelam and Tabu were also involved in the case, as per reports, they have been acquitted.
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The court is yet to pronounce the quantum of the sentence and the actor is likely to be sent to Jodhpur Central Jail. His counsel is expected to plead for a minimum sentence. Salman reportedly had shot and killed two blackbucks (chinkaras) in the Bhagoda ki Dhani village and the complaint against him was registered on 2nd October 1998. He was also accused of carrying firearms with expired licences.
The actors were in the state for the shooting of the movie Hum Sath Sath Hain during that time and the other actors accompanied him. According to reports, the actor, along with his companions had allegedly fled leaving the dead animals behind after being chased by the villagers.
He was facing charges under section 51 of the Wildlife Protection Act (1972) and other actors were charged under the provisions of law under section 149 (unlawful assembly) of the Indian Penal Code.
Judge Dev Khatri had reserved the verdict for today after hearing final arguments on March 28th. The complaint against the actor was registered by the Bishnoi community of the local area. The blackbuck also known as Indian Antelope is the only existing member of the genus Antelope. The Bishnoi community in Rajasthan is known to be fiercely protective of their natural heritage.