Jodhpur, April 5: A Jodhpur court on Thursday gave actor Salman Khan five years in jail for killing two blackbucks in October 1998 but acquitted his colleagues Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Neelam and Sonali Bendre, a prosecution lawyer said.
He was also slapped a fine of Rs 10,000. His arrest warrant was issued and he would go to Jodhpur Central Jail.A fifth person, Dushyant Singh, a local from the area, had also been acquitted, Mahipal Bishnoi, the prosecution counsel, told reporters.Salman was found guilty of killing the blackbucks, from the antelope family, at Kankani village near Jodhpur on the night of October 1, 1998 during the shooting of the film ‘Hum Saath Saath Hain’.
Salman, who has been held guilty under Section 9/51 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, faces a maximum punishment of six years.Final arguments of the case were completed in the trial court on March 28, after which Chief Judicial Magistrate Dev Kumar Khatri had reserved his judgment.
All the actors were in a Gypsy that night with Salman, 52, in the driving seat. He spotted a herd of blackbucks and killed two of them, the lawyer said.Dressed in a black shirt, Salman reached the court earlier in the morning with his bodyguard.The other actors, some of them accompanied by their family members, were also in the courtroom when the verdict was read out.
Timeline
Oct 2, 1998
Complaint registered by Forest DepartmentTotal accused in the case: 7 (Salman Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Neelam, Tabu, Dushyant Singh and Dinesh Gawre)Eyewitness in case: 4 (Chohogaram, Poonam Chand, Sheraram and Mangilal)
Nov 9, 2000
Cognisance of case by CJM Court
Feb 19, 2006
Charges framed against accused. Following repeated revision petitions, first by defence in sessions court and then by prosecution in HC, the trial was held up for 7 years
Mar 23, 2013
Revised charges framed against all accused by trial court
May 23, 2013
Trial begins in Chief Judicial Magistrate Court. Total prosecution witnesses who deposed during trial: 28
Jan 13, 2017
Deposition completed in trial court
Jan 27, 2017
All accused appear in court for recording statements
Sept 13, 2017
Final arguments by prosecution begin in trial court
Oct 28, 2017
Final arguments by defence begin
Mar 24/28,2018
Final arguments completed by defence lawyer. Order kept reserved by trial court
Apr 5, 2018
Salman convicted; gets 5-year jail; five others acquitted
Source Tribune India
