Blackbuck case verdict: Salman Khan 'habitual' offender; faces jail-term

Bollywood actor Salman Khan was held guilty for poaching blackbuck in Jodhpur. He has been sentenced to two years in jail. Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Neelam and Tabu were acquitted.

Jodhpur court has convicted Salman Khan in a 20-year-old blackbuck poaching case and acquitted actors Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Neelam on Thursday. He has been sentenced to two years in jail. While arguing on the quantum of punishment, the prosecution called Salman Khan a habitual offender. Salman's lawyer strongly opposed the statement, saying that Salman has been acquitted from higher courts. Salman is involved in social service, the actor's lawyer also told the court.

Elaborate security arrangements were made in and outside the court premises ahead of the verdict. Final arguments in the case were completed in the trial court on March 28, after which Chief Judicial Magistrate Dev Kumar Khatri had reserved the judgment to be pronounced on April 5. All the actors arrived the city and were present in court during pronouncement of the verdict.

Salman Khan, 52, faced charges under Section 51 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act and the other actors have been charged under Section 51 read with Section 149 (unlawful assembly) of the Indian Penal Code. Maximum punishment under Section 51 is six years.

The actors were accused of hunting down two blackbucks in Bhagoda ki Dhani in village Kankani near Jodhpur on the intervening night of October 1 and 2, 1998. The actors were in the city for the shooting of the film 'Hum Saath Saath Hain'. Public Prosecutor Bhawani Singh Bhati said there was sufficient evidence against the actors.

Live updates on Blackbuck case 1998

12.30 pm: While arguing on the quantum of punishment, the prosecution called Salman Khan a habitual offender. Salman's lawyer strongly opposed the statement, saying that Salman has been acquitted from higher courts. Salman is involved in social service, the actor's lawyer also told the court.

12.20 pm: The prosecution has demanded the maximum punishment for Salman Khan.

12.14 pm: Congress leader Rajiv Shukla has said that Salman Khan will now have to abide by the ruling of the court. Senior advocate Ram Jethmalani further went on to say that the actor "probably deserves" it.

12.07 pm: Judge to pronounce verdict soon. Chief Judicial Magistrate Dev Kumar Khatri has now stepped out of his chamber, while everyone else remained seated. He is expected to decide on the quantum of punishment in a while.

12.00 pm: Court hearing concluded.

11.54 am: Salman Khan's lawyer pleads for probation or minimum punishment

11.48 am: Argument on quantum of sentence in progress

11.44 am: Actors Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Sonali Bendre, and Neelam, the co-accused in the case, have been acquitted in the 1998 case blackbuck poaching case.

11.30 am: Jodhpur court convicts Salman Khan, acquits rest in 1998 blackbuck poaching case

11. 22 am: Security is heavily beefed up outside the court premises after Salman received a death threat. Salman arrived with his bodyguard Shera at the Jodhpur court.

10.50 am: Saif Ali Khan, Salman Khan, Sonali Bendre, Tabu arrive in Jodhpur court.

Salman Khan's hit and run case, 2002: Around 2 a.m. Salman Khan's Toyota Land Cruiser rams into a roadside bakery in Bandra West, close to his Galaxy Apartments seafront home. Five people sleeping are injured, one of whom later dies. Later that afternoon, Salman arrested by Bandra police and enlarged on bail by a Bandra Metropolitan Magistrate court.

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