A Jodhpur court today convicted Bollywood star Salman Khan in a 1998 poaching case in which he was accused of killing two blackbucks, an endangered species. However, four other actors also accused in the case were acquitted . They are Saif Ali Khan, Neelam, Sonali Bendre and Tabu. Here's all you need to know about the case:
Salman Khan was sentenced to five years in jail by the Jodhpur Chief Judicial Magistrate Court today.
The other high-profile accused in the case were also present in court. Also in the dock were travel agent Dushyant Singh and Dinesh Gawre, Salman's assistant at the time. Gawre is on the run. The trial against the other six has been completed.
While shooting for the movie 'Hum Saath Saath Hain' in 1998 in Rajasthan, Salman allegedly went on a shooting expedition along with Saif, Neelam, Bendre and Tabu, and is believed to have killed two blackbucks in Jodhpur's Kankani village.
Following protests by the local Bishnoi community, a case was filed against Salman and the other actors.
Salman has been charged under section 51 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act whereas the six other accused face charges under the same section but read with IPC section 149, which points to unlawful assembly.
The minimum sentence is one year in prison, and the maximum is six years.
During a hearing in January 2017, Salman said the blackbuck died of "natural causes" and claimed that he was being "framed" by forest department officials.
This is last of the three poaching cases against Salman from 1998 that is being heard at Jodhpur trial court. He was convicted in two poaching cases by trial court, only to be acquitted by the Rajasthan high court later.