Blackbuck killing case returns to haunt Salman Khan

Salman Khan was on August 9 directed by a court in Rajasthan’s Jodhpur city to present himself before it on September 20 in connection with his appeal against his conviction in a poaching case. Salman was sentenced to one-year imprisonment for killing a blackbuck and a chinkara (gazelle) in Bhawad village near Jodhpur on September 26, 1998. The sentence was handed down by a Jodhpur court February 17, 2006. The court had found Salman guilty under Section 51 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. After his conviction, he spent three nights in Jodhpur Central Jail before the district and sessions court granted him bail. Salman filed an appeal against the conviction on March 9, 2006. On August 9, District and Sessions Judge (Metropolitan) B.L. Sharma adjourned the hearing till September 20. Public Prosecutor Ramsukh Sharma said that Salman had not presented himself before the court even once since the hearing began on the appeal. “We argued that Salman could not get exemption from his presence always,” said Sharma. On the other hand, Salman’s counsel sought exemption from his presence, saying that it could lead to a law and order situation as he has a huge fan following. The court rejected the argument and said that the hearing would be conducted on a regular basis from September 20. Salman and seven others were accused of killing a blackbuck and a chinkara in two separate incidents. One of the animals was killed at Bhawad on the outskirts of Jodhpur September 26, 1998, and the other at Ghoda Farms September 28, 1998. At that time, Salman and other actors, including Saif Ali Khan, Karisma Kapoor and Sonali Bendre, were shooting for the film ‘Hum Saath Saath Hain’.