Blackbuck poaching case: Rajasthan HC to hear appeals of Salman Khan, govt on July 28

JODHPUR: Seven years after Salman Khan was convicted and sentenced to five years in jail in the blackbuck poaching case, the Rajasthan high court will hear the appeals filed by the actor as well as the state govt on July 28.


While the actor had challenged his conviction and sentencing in the case, the state govt had filed an appeal against the acquittal of other accused film stars — Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Neelam and Tabu — and a local resident, Dushyant Singh.

Justice Manoj Kumar Garg on Friday ordered the clubbing of both the appeals, and directed the matter to be listed for July 28.

Actor had challenged his conviction

The five actors and the local resident were booked for hunting two blackbucks in the Kankani area of Jodhpur on Oct 1-2, 1998, when they were in the district for ‘Hum Saath Saath Hain’’s shooting.

In April 2018, a trial court convicted Salman in the case and awarded a five-year prison sentence but acquitted the others.

The actor challenged his conviction in the sessions court and has since been out on bail, while the state moved HC against the acquittal of the five co-accused.

According to Mahipal Bishnoi, the complainants’ lawyer, Salman later requested to transfer his petition to the HC, saying both cases were part of the same trial. The HC allowed the transfer, but there had been no progress in the case since then.

“So, we prayed in the court today (Friday) to list both appeals for hearing,” Bishnoi said.