JODHPUR – Bollywood star Salman Khan has been sentenced to jail for 5 years on Thursday by a Jodhpur court after he was convicted of killing two blackbucks near Jodhpur in Rajasthan.
Besides the imprisonment, the ‘Ek Tha Tiger’ star was also fined INR10,000 fine and would be sent directly to jail from the court.
The incident took place about twenty years ago while Salman as working on “Hum Saath Saath Hain” in 1998.
The conviction under the Section 51 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act carries a maximum punishment of six years and minimum one-year jail term.
Along with himself being present at the court, Salman was joined by his co-stars including Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Sonali Bendre and Neelam. The star and other actors face charges under the Wildlife (Protection) Act as blackbuck is an endangered species and protected under the Indian Wildlife Act. The other actors have been acquitted.
The poaching took place near a village of Bishnois, where blackbucks are revered and protected by the community. The Bishnois are key witnesses in the case against Salman Khan.
