Hindi News

Salman Khan Sentenced To Five Years In Jail: Here Are His Legal Options

By Silverscreen India Staff
Salman Khan At The TiE Global Summit
Salman Khan At The TiE Global Summit

Bollywood superstar Salman Khan was sentenced to five years of imprisonment by the Jodhpur court on Thursday in the 1998 blackbuck poaching case. The four other co-accused stars – Sonali Bendre, Saif Ali Khan, Tabu and Neelam — were acquitted of all charges.

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 the law. The incident took place in Kankani village near Jodhpur on the intervening night of October 1-2, 1998, during the shooting of Hum Saath Saath Hain.

The actor is being taken to Jodhpur Central Jail where he will spend the night. If the sentence was less than three years of jail, the actor could have applied for bail in the same court. However, he will now have to approach the sessions court for bail which will be done on Friday. The actor had spent 18 days in the same jail in 1998, 2006 and 2007.

The actor’s case was represented by defence counsel Hastimal Saraswat. The judgement was pronounced by Chief Justice Magistrate Dev Kumar Khatri at a hearing attended by Salman’s sisters Alvira and Arpita. Now since he has been convicted, he will have to appeal against the conviction. ‘Appeal Against Conviction’ is a provision under the law in which the convict approaches the higher court. If appeal from conviction is admitted then he will get released on bail, until then he will be incarcerated.

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. One wonders how these projects will go ahead, as Salman, who is the lead in all three movies and the quiz show, has already signed on the dotted lines. Race 3 is being shot and Bharat and Dabangg 3 are also slated to go on floors soon. The production of these films will definitely suffer because of the conviction.
Meanwhile, Bollywood celebrities have expressed their sympathies.

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Silverscreen India Staff is a at Silverscreen India, and can be reached by email at contact@silverscreen.in