SALMAN KHAN SENTENCED TO TWO YEARS IN JAIL IN BLACKBUCK POACHING CASE

A Jodhpur court today pronounced actor Salman Khan guilty of shooting two blackbucks in 1998 and sentenced him to two years in jail. He can, however, immediately apply for bail. 52 year old Khan was facing charges under Section 51 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act and the other actors have been charged under Section 51 read with Section 149 (unlawful assembly) of the Indian Penal Code. Maximum punishment under Section 51 is six years.

The court, while convicting Khan, has acquitted all the rest accused. Five Bollywood actors including Salman Khan, Saif Ali, Sonali Bendre, Neelam and Tabu were accused in the case. Khan faces a minimum punishment of one year in jail, and maximum of six years. The actors are accused of hunting down two black bucks in Bhagoda ki Dhani in village Kankani near Jodhpur on the intervening night of October 1 and 2, 1998. The actors were in the city for the shooting of the film 'Hum Saath Saath Hain'.

The case also involved two more accused Dushyant Singh, who had allegedly accompanied them during the alleged poaching incident, and Dinesh Gawre, said to be an assistant of Salman Khan.