Salman Khan was convicted in the 1998 blackbuck poaching case and sentenced to five years in prison on 5 April. While Salman is controversy’s favourite child, he is not the only Indian actor to have run into trouble with law.
The list is quite endless, actually. Here are some top actors who have been accused of criminal activity.
Sanjay Dutt: Convicted For Illegal Possession of Arms
Sanjay Dutt was convicted for illegal possession of arms under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act in 2013 in connection with the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts. The Supreme Court sentenced him to five years of imprisonment. He served his sentence in Pune’s Yerwada jail and was let off on 25 February 2016.
Salman Khan: Convicted for Poaching Blackbuck, Acquitted for Hit & Run
On 5 April 2018, Salman Khan was convicted by a Jodhpur court in the 1998 blackbuck poaching case. The court pronounced a five-year jail term for the actor in the verdict, while others accused, including Saif Ali Khan and Tabu, walked free.
Earlier, the Bombay High Court in 2015 acquitted the Bollywood superstar of all charges in the hit & run case registered against him in 2002. He was accused of running over a labourer who was sleeping on a Bandra sidewalk, and injuring four others.
Shah Rukh Khan: The Wankhede Scuffle & Sex-Determination Allegation
More than five years after an FIR was registered against Shah Rukh Khan for allegedly using foul language in front of minors, the Mumbai Police closed the case in 2017, concluding that he did not do so. Khan was alleged to have used foul language at the Wankhede Stadium in 2012 during an IPL match. At that time, he was also banned from entering the stadium for the next five years.
Female foeticide activist Varsha Deshpande filed a sex determination case against the actor and his wife Gauri Khan, post the birth the of their youngest son AbRam in 2013.
Dileep: Accused of Abduction and Sexual Harassment
A Kerala trial court in 2017 accepted a chargesheet which named Malayalam superstar Dileep as an accused in a case involving the alleged kidnapping and sexual assault of an actress in February.
The actress, who is said to be popular in south India, was abducted when she was on her way from Thrissur to Kochi, forcibly driven around in her vehicle for about two hours and allegedly molested before being dumped near an actor-director's home.
Mohanlal: Possession of Ivories Without Authorisation
Malayalam actor Mohanlal was found to be in possession of four ivory tusks during an Income Tax raid at his house in 2011. All Kerala Anti Corruption & Human Rights Protection Council filed a case against the actor — which was subsequently closed by the Kerala High Court in 2017.
Akshay Kumar: The Infamous 'Zip' Incident and a Case That Followed
Akshay Kumar’s wife Twinkle Khanna unbuttoned the actor’s jeans at a public event when he was walking the ramp. The incident triggered a debate around public indecency — with a Mumbai-based activist lodging a complaint against the actor and his wife. The actor reportedly surrendered and is now free.
Saif Ali Khan: Slapgate During Night Out
While the actor was accused of poaching black bucks, along with Salman Khan, he ran into fresh trouble for manhandling and punching a South African businessman during a night out with friends. The incident reportedly happened at Mumbai’s Taj Mahal Palace hotel. The actor was booked for assault under Section 325 of IPC and was even arrested in connection with the case.
Sooraj Pancholi: Accused in Jia Khan's Suicide Mystery
Sooraj Pancholi found himself entangled in a suicide mystery after his ex-girlfriend Jiah Khan committed suicide in 2013. He was arrested for allegedly playing a role in her suicide, but was later released on bail. The case is on right now.
The list doesn’t end here. Fardeen Khan was caught while trying to buy cocaine, Shiney Ahuja was accused of raping his domestic help, John Abraham was also arrested for a brief period for injuring two pedestrians by rash driving, and Govinda landed in trouble for slapping a man.
(With inputs from the New Indian Express, Livelaw)
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