The Jodhpur sessions court on Saturday, 7 April granted bail to the incarcerated star, Salman Khan in the 20-year-old blackbuck poaching case. Khan was accused and convicted for killing two blackbucks, an endangered species, in Bhagoda ki Dhani in Kankani village near Jodhpur during the filming of Hum Saath Saath Hain, on the intervening night of October 1-2, 1998.
The megastar was sentenced to five years imprisonment by the Jodhpur trial court, under Section 51 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 on 5 April and was consequently lodged in the Jodhpur Central Jail for two nights.
The 52-year-old actor is likely to be released from prison in the evening on 7 April. He is required to produce two bail bonds of Rs. 25,000 each, Mahipal Bishnoi, the lawyer representing the Bishnoi community, told the media.
He reiterated that this is only an interim relief.
He cannot leave the country without the court’s permission, and will have to appear here (at the court) again in person on 7 May.Mahipal Bishnoi, the lawyer representing the Bishnoi community
The District and Sessions Court Judge Ravindra Kumar Joshi heard Salman Khan’s bail plea on Saturday morning.
The actor is expected to reach Mumbai later at night.
Salman Khan was seen at the Mumbai airport with sister Alvira Khan.
- 01/03Salman Khan returns to Mumbai from Jodhpur. (Photo: Yogen Shah)
- 02/03Sisters, Alvira and Arpita receive him at the aiport. (Photo: Yogen Shah)
- 03/03The scene outside Salman Khan’s Bandra house on his return. (Photo: Yogen Shah)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)