Salman Khan's Blackbuck Poaching Case: Legal Battle and Acquittals Over 20 Years of Controversy
In June 2006, the Jodhpur Court framed charges against Salman under Section 51 of the Wildlife Protection Act. Simultaneously, Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Neelam, Tabu, and local resident Dushyant Singh were charged under Section 52 of the Act. In November 2013, the Rajasthan High Court stayed Salman’s sentence.
Exactly 20 years ago, Salman Khan emerged as a captivating star in Bollywood, enchanting audiences with his charming persona and exceptional acting talent. Following the tremendous success of *Maine Pyar Kiya*, filmmaker Sooraj Barjatya cast Salman once again as the lead in his next project, *Hum Saath-Saath Hain*. During the filming of this movie in Jodhpur, Rajasthan, an infamous incident involving blackbuck poaching occurred. Salman, along with his co-stars Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Neelam, and Tabu, stayed at two farmhouses located in Bhabad and Mathania. It was alleged that during their stay, Salman was encouraged by his fellow actors to hunt blackbucks.
Salman was accused of poaching blackbucks at various locations, with charges based on testimonies from individuals who claimed to have witnessed or heard about the hunting. The initial accusation came on the night of the 26th, when Salman was alleged to have poached blackbucks in the village of Bhabad near Jodhpur. Based on these allegations, the Jodhpur Court sentenced Salman to one year of imprisonment on February 17, 2006. Later, on April 10, 2006, the same court sentenced him to five years in prison for blackbuck poaching at a horse farm. Salman served three days in jail before being granted bail.
In June 2006, the Jodhpur Court framed charges against Salman under Section 51 of the Wildlife Protection Act. Simultaneously, Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Neelam, Tabu, and local resident Dushyant Singh were charged under Section 52 of the Act. In November 2013, the Rajasthan High Court stayed Salman’s sentence. However, in January 2015, the Supreme Court overturned the High Court's order, leading to renewed legal proceedings. By July 2016, the Rajasthan High Court acquitted Salman in two cases related to blackbuck poaching.
In January 2017, Salman was acquitted by a Jodhpur court in an arms case, where he was accused of using an expired firearm to hunt blackbucks. Nonetheless, on April 5, 2018, another Jodhpur court sentenced Salman to five years in prison and imposed a ₹10,000 fine. Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Neelam, Sonali Bendre, and Dushyant Singh were acquitted due to insufficient evidence.
Considering Salman Khan’s immense popularity in Bollywood and the demands of film production, the court reviewed his bail application on April 7, 2018. Judge Ravindra Kumar Joshi of the Jodhpur District Court granted Salman bail on a personal bond of ₹50,000, subject to various conditions.
