Jodhpur: Court verdict in Salman Khan black buck poaching case soon

Jaipur: A Jodhpur on Wednesday started hearing final argument in the 19-year-old blackbuck poaching case. Bollywood actors Salman Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Tabu and Neelam are among the accused in the case. As soon as the final arguments are over, the court may deliver a verdict in the case.

Salman Khan is accused of poaching two black bucks at Kankani village on the intervening night of October 1-2, 1998. The other actors and a local resident Dushyant Singh are charged with instigating Khan to poach the animals.

Salman Khan was in Jodhpur for the shoot of his film –Hum Saath Saath Hain in 1998 when the alleged incident took place.

A total of four cases had been registered against Salman Khan in connection with poaching.

During the shooting of Sooraj Barjatya’s movie, ‘Hum Saath Saath Hain’, in 1998, Khan allegedly went on a shooting expedition along with actors Saif Ali Khan, Neelam, Sonali Bendre and Tabu, killing two blackbucks in Kankani village.

Following protests by the local Bishnoi community, a case was later filed against Salman and the other actors.

Salman had a total of four separate cases registered against him in connection with the poaching of blackbucks and chinkara.  Two of these cases were registered under section 51 of Wildlife (Protection) Act for poaching of two blackbucks in village Bhawad on 26-27 September, 1998 and one chinkara in Mathania (Ghoda Farm) on September 28-29, 1998.

In these two cases pertaining to the Wildlife Protection Act, the Rajasthan high court acquitted the actor in July, 2016.

The third case is pertaining to the use of illegal arms for poaching. The judgement in this case came on Wednesday.

Another case under the Wildlife Protection Act is still under trial. This case is regarding the poaching of two blackbucks near Kakandi village on the intervening night of October 1 and October 2, 1998.

On Wednesday, public prosecutor Bhawnisinh Bhati delivered the final arguments before the court. The court will continue to hear the arguments from the prosecution on Thursday.

Bhati told the court on Wednesday that many witnesses have identified Khan and other accused in their statements.

A forensic science laboratory (FSL) report found that bloodstains in the vehicle that the actors drove, was of the black bucks.

Bhati read out the statements of witnesses and informed the court about the findings of the FSL report.

The defendants will begin their arguments after the prosecution’s arguments are over.

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