Bollywood actor Salman Khan was convicted of poaching blackbucks in Rajasthan in 1998 under Section 51 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 by a Jodhpur court on Thursday. He was sentenced to five years in jail. The other accused in the case, Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Neelam and Sonali Bendre, were acquitted after getting the benefit of doubt.
Salman was found guilty of killing blackbucks in Kankani village near Jodhpur on the night of 1 October, 1998, during the shooting of the film Hum Saath Saath Hain.
The actor arrived at Jodhpur Central Jail on Thursday afternoon. He will undergo a medical examination there before being held in jail overnight. If the sentence had been less than three years, the actor could have applied for bail in the same court. However, he will now have to approach the sessions (higher) court for bail. According to CNN-News 18, Salman's bail application will be taken up at 10:30 am on Friday morning.
Preparations for holding Salman to the Jodhpur Central jail are in place, Mahipal Bishnoi, the prosecution counsel, told reporters. Salman will also incur a fine of Rs 10,000.
The actor's case was represented by defence counsel Hastimal Saraswat. The judgment was pronounced by Chief Justice Magistrate Dev Kumar Khatri at a hearing attended by Salman's sisters Alvira and Arpita. The trial of the case was in progress since the last 19 years and the judge had reserved the order after the final arguments on 28 March
Salman is likely to be housed with self-styled godman Asaram Bapu, who was sent to jail after being convicted of rape, and allegedly received preferential VIP treatment in prison. Another convict housed in the same prison is Rajsamand killer Shambhulal Regar, who, even after being jailed for murdering a Muslim labourer, was making videos from inside the jail. Other inmates include some hardened terrorists from Kashmir who were recently shifted out from Srinagar jail, as per CNN-News18. Sources in Jodhpur Central Jail confirmed that the room lacks all kinds of amenities. There is definitely no cooler or AC and it is just like other simple prison cells.
Legal recourse available to Salman
The actor's legal counsel Anand Desai issued a statement saying, "We respect the decision of the Hon'ble Court. While we are studying the judgement it just came as a surprise, as the entire investigation, and facts of this case were the same as those for which Salman has been acquitted by the Hon'ble High Court of Rajasthan in two cases, and even by the Hon'ble CJM in the Arms Act matter for the alleged offence on the very same night as is the subject matter of the present case. Also, in the present case, the Hon'ble Court has acquitted all the 5 co-accused which would imply that Salman was out hunting alone in the middle of the night in a remote area outside Jodhpur. We have preferred an appeal to the Hon'ble Sessions Court and applied for an urgent hearing today. The Hon'ble Sessions Court will hear the appeal for suspension of the sentence/ bail at 10.30 tomorrow."
The options for Salman to get out of serving prison time are limited. According to reports, the police have issued an arrest warrant for the actor and he will be taken into custody soon. However, according to News18, Salman's legal team is ready to appeal to a higher court. If the higher court accepts the appeal, to be heard on Friday, Salman might get bail and probably get back to Mumbai by Thursday.