Decoded: Salman Khan’s Blackbuck Poaching Case in detail!

The awful event!

On the one eventful night of 26 September 1998, the team of 'Hum Saath Saath Hain' namely Salman Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Tabu and Neelam apparently decided to go on wildlife hunting in the dense forests of Bhawda village in Jodhpur. During this adventurous excursion, the stars apparently shot two Chinkaras. On the following night, the stars apparently shot one Blackbuck (a rare species) at Ghoda Farm near Mathanai Village.

Blackbuck for a lavish meal?

Following this, the Bishnoi Community filed a case against the stars on October 2, 1998. Salman and other stars were charged for hunting an endangered species of black buck deer. The forest department had then registered a case with the local police against Salman for allegedly making use a gun who's license had expired. A case was filed under the Arm's Act for the illegal possession of a gun. An eyewitness was also quoted saying that Salman killed the animals, dragged it to his hotel room, cleaned it and cooked it for dinner.

Five Days in Jail!

The case was filed on October 2, 1998 but, Salman Khan was only arrested on October 12, 1998. He spent five days in Jail and was granted a bail on October 17. Since then this case is being transferred from the Local Court to the High Court and now it's in Supreme Court.

Five years of Jail Term!

Just like his other case, even this case has been progressing with the speed that of a tortoise. In the year 2006, Salman Khan was then convicted in this case. On April 10, 2006 hearing was carried out and Salman was then charged under Wildlife Protection Act and Arms Act. He was then punished with 1-year imprisonment for killing Chinkaras and 5-year imprisonment for killing Blackbuck along with a fine of rupees 25,000. This order of trial court was then challenged in the higher court.

Ban on his travel abroad!

Following this, the very next year the session court supported trial court's judgement. On August 24, 2007 the High court upheld the session court's order and dismissed his plea to get a relief in this case. The conviction order of Salman being sentenced to the jail for said years was held true. Apparently, when this order was being pronounced Salman failed to present himself in the front of the court. Salman reached Jodhpur only on August 26 when he was arrested at the Jodhpur airport. He then had to spend two nights in the jail as the court was shut for the next two days. The case then moved to the Rajasthan High Court. On August 31, 2007 a stay was put on Salman's jail term but he was then asked to not leave the country without the court's permission.

Denial of UK Visa!

In the year 2013, the Rajasthan Government then moved to the apex court to find justice in this case. As the case was still going on, Salman Khan couldn't get a visa to the UK to complete the shoot of his film. Salman Khan then asked the Supreme Court to backen the High Court's staying conviction in his plea as it is necessary for him to obtain a visa to travel abroad for his shooting schedule. This happened during the filming of his 'Kick.' According to the UK laws, anyone who is convicted under any case can't be granted visa and Salman was the one with the list of legal cases in his name. But, finally he did acquire the Visa and completed his shooting.

Salman Khan acquitted in Arms Act Case!

According to the verdict pronounced by the Jodhpur Court on January 18, 2017, Salman Khan was acquitted in the Arms Act Case. After the acquittal, Salman's lawyer said, "Salman Khan (has been) acquitted in the Arms Act case after the prosecution failed to provide conclusive evidence." It's a big relief for Salman Khan as the case has come to an end after almost 18 years.

The FINAL verdict

Now, we await the Jodhpur court's verdict in Blackbuck poaching case. The verdict is supposed to rule out today. As per their lawyers, stars can suffer maximum of six years of jail. But the stars can further challenge this verdict in Supreme Court.