Bollywood superstar Salman Khan was on Thursday sentenced to five years in prison after a court here convicted him for killing two rare blackbucks, putting an end, at least for now, to a legal battle that ran for 20 years.
Chief Judicial Magistrate Dev Kumar Khatri, while pronouncing the guilty verdict in the case of killing the protected antelopes, called Salman, 52, a "habitual offender" under the wildlife protection laws of the country.
Salman's sisters Alvira and Arpita were present in the court when the judgement was pronounced.
Amid tight security, Salman was taken to the Jodhpur Central Jail where he will spend at least a night in barrack number one. The prison houses rape-accused Asaram Bapu, Bhanwari Devi murder accused Malkhan Singh Vishnoi and Shambhu Lal Regar, arrested for killing a Muslim and blatantly filming the act.
The court also imposed a small fine of Rs 10,000 on one of the biggest Bollywood stars who currently has an upwards of Rs 600 crore worth of unfinished film projects under his belt.
Salman has sought bail but his application will be heard on Friday morning in the Jodhpur sessions court. If the bail does not come through, he will have to stay in jail for at least three more days as the weekend follows.
Official statement by #SalmanKhan’s lawyer Anand Desai: Sessions court will hear the appeal for suspension of the sentence / bail at 1030 tomorrow. #Blackbuck #BlackBuckPoachingCase #SalmanKhanVerdict @anjanaomkashyap @nehabatham03 pic.twitter.com/Kp9vL1FuJ9
— Kiran Parmar (@kiranparmar21) April 5, 2018
Prosecution alleged that Salman and other Bollywood stars Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Sonali Bendre and Neelam went hunting on the October 1-2 in 1998 outside a forest reserve near Kankani village in Jodhpur while shooting for "Hum Saath Saath Hain" in 1998.
Video: #SalmanKhan Reaches #Jodhpur Central #Jail; Will Spend The Night In Prison! 😳😱#Blackbuck | #BlackbuckPoaching | #SalmanVerdict | #SalmanGuilty | #SalmanConvicted pic.twitter.com/F2oZZuNCiM
— SpotboyE (@Spotboye) April 5, 2018
The four co-stars and a local, Dushyant Singh, were all acquitted.
This is the fourth time Salman was sent to Jodhpur jail. Earlier, he spent 18 days in the jail at different times in 1998, 2006 and 2007 -- all in poaching cases. Every time, he was released on bail.
Soon after the guilty verdict, members of Bishnoi community, who worship the antelope believing that it is a reincarnation of a 600-year-old guru, celebrated in front of the court.
The Bishnoi community was anguished by the poaching incident and had filed a complaint against the stars, saying they heard gunshots being fired shortly after midnight on October 1, 1998.
Endangered species #Blackbuck hunted down in 1998. For 20 years since then, #SalmanKhan has been making movies and millions.
— kasturi shankar (@KasthuriShankar) April 5, 2018
A hefty contribution to zoological survey of India /wildlife reserves could be ordered by the court.
Saddened by the #SalmanKhanConvicted verdict.its like sentencing him for 25 years. I hope he is out soon . #WeSupportSalmanKhan .hes a good man as far as I know.
— Arjun Bijlani (@Thearjunbijlani) April 5, 2018
The law must take its course & treat everyone equally, but its sad to see #SalmanKhanConvicted at the Jodhpur court. Thousands of families have been helped by him directly (through his charity) & indirectly (through his work). Hope the HC finds him innocent & lets him off.
— Akshaye Rathi (@akshayerathi) April 5, 2018
In another Universe-
— Gita S. Kapoor (@GitaSKapoor) April 5, 2018
Gurmehar protests- Salman didn't kill the black buck, the bullet did #SalmanKhanConvicted
This is one of many legal battles Salman has faced in the last 20 years, including allegations of killing a homeless man while driving drunk in Mumbai, a charge he was acquitted of.
He was also booked for keeping a weapon under an expired arms licence. But a trial court had acquitted him.
In other cases, he was accused of killing two protected chinkaras in Bhawad and one in Mathania. However, the Rajasthan High Court acquitted him in 2016.
This is also the reason Salman Khan got convincted.
— ا Funny Leone (@funnyleone) April 5, 2018
Jaanwar ka mazaak udata hai maadharjaat 😂😂😂#BlackBuckPoachingCase #SalmanKhan #WeSupportSalmankhan #SalmanVerdict #SalmanConvicted #SalmanGuilty #Blackbuck #SalmanKhanConvicted pic.twitter.com/2MDn9TYr7X
BOLLYWOOD'S HEART GOES OUT TO SALMAN KHAN
The film fraternity has its fingers crossed over Friday morning's court hearing on the actor's bail plea.
A popular, high net-worth superstar, Salman is either acting in or producing through his family production houses, several major upcoming films with a potential to be blockbusters, Bollywood insiders said.
Currently, there are around half a dozen big-budget films lined up on the floor or at advanced planning stages, including "Race 3", which is almost complete, "Dabangg 3", "Partner 2", "Kick 2', "Bharat", "No Entry Mein Entry", "Sher Khan" and "Loveratri", said K. Ramji of Krishnamurthy Films.
On TV, he has a comeback season of reality TV show "Dus Ka Dum" and likely a new edition of reality show "Bigg Boss".
Some of his Bollywood colleagues said they were saddened with the verdict.
Actor-politician Jaya told the media: "I am feeling bad... The film industry has invested so much on him, they will suffer loss. After 20 years, they are finding him guilty. But law takes its course... What can one say?"
Asked if she sees him get justice in a higher court, Jaya said: "He should... He does a lot of humanitarian work through his organisation Being Human."
Salman, 52, was found guilty under Section 9/51 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 for killing two blackbucks, an endangered species, hunting of which is prohibited by law. The incident took place in Kankani village near Jodhpur on October 1-2, 1998, during the shooting of Bollywood film "Hum Saath Saath Hain".
While Salman has been sentenced to five years in prison, four co-accused stars -- Sonali Bendre, Saif Ali Khan, Tabu and Neelam -- apart from one other local person, were acquitted of all charges.
Ghai tweeted: "I am extremely shocked to hear Salman Khan being convicted... but also having full trust in Indian judiciary which has many other doors to appeal for final justice... Since he (Salman) is most loved person by industry and people for his human reasons too."
Alok, who has worked closely with Salman in films like "Maine Pyar Kiya" and "Hum Aapke Hain Koun..!", told a TV channel that it's "tragic" that such a verdict has come after two decades.
The actor, who played Salman's father in "Hum Saath Saath Hain" said the conviction is a "sad news" for the film industry.
"It took so long... for a person who has been on tenterhooks over this case for the last two decades, and suddenly there's this huge punishment. I don't know what to say," he said, hoping that Salman's "battery of lawyers" will appeal for justice in a higher court.
Arjun Rampal felt the law takes its own course and one can't argue it. He tweeted: "But at this point in time I just feel helpless and my heart goes out to Salman Khan and his family. Reason, cause the last thing Salman Khan is, is a criminal. I feel this is too harsh. I do hope he gets the relief he deserves."
TV actress Shilpa Shinde, who was in "Bigg Boss 11" -- hosted by Salman -- raised multiple questions.
She tweeted: "How many tigers have been poached and what's the status of Justice on that? How many jungles have been cut down in the name of development? Isn't it leading to wildlife killing? Punishing a good human being is not acceptable.
"Animal poaching is ever-increasing, jungles are cut in the name of urban development, isn't it leading to wildlife killing? Who will be punished for that?"
Salman's lawyers have reached out to the sessions court, which will hear the bail appeal on Friday morning. The actor is currently in Jodhpur Central Jail.
His sisters Alvira and Arpita, as well as bodyguard Shera were at the court when the verdict was announced.
Salman's filmmaker friend Sajid Nadiadwala has also left for Jodhpur to be by his side. Nadiadwala had organised a party here on Friday to celebrate the success of "Baaghi 2", but now it stands cancelled, a statement said.
Currently, three big movie projects -- "Race 3", "Bharat" and "Dabangg 3" -- as well as a comeback season of reality TV show "Dus Ka Dum" are riding on Salman's shoulders.
