Blackbuck poaching case verdict: Salman Khan convicted

Bollywood actor Salman Khan found guilty in 1998 blackbuck poaching case. Other actors accused in the case including Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Neelam and Sonali Bendre have been acquitted.

The verdict was declared at Jodhpur courtamidst high security.

After the verdict, Gen Secy of Bishnoi Tiger Force said,"This case was registered because of Bishnoi community efforts. We had to do dharna to get the report lodged."

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According to the case, Salman Khan and others were accused of killing two blackbucks in Bhagoda ki Dhani in Kankani village near Jodhpur on the night of October 1, 1998 -- during the shooting of their film Hum Saath Saath Hain. They werecharged under Section 51 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act.The trial of the case has been in progress for the last 20 years.

Public Prosecutor Bhawani Singh Bhati had said that all of them were in a gypsy car that night after wrapping the shoot for ongoing film Hum Saath Saath Hain. Salman was in the driving seat while others incited him to indulge in the act. Salman then spotted a herd of black bucks, shot at and killed two of them that night.

Salman's counsel, however, had said that the prosecution had engaged in tampering and fabricating evidence as well as roping in fake witnesses to prove its case.

The blackbuck is an endangered antelope species native to the Indian subcontinent. The species is protected under Schedule 1 of the Indian Wildlife Act. Before Independence, blackbucks were extensively hunted in the princely states of India due to which their population has been declining continuously. These animals are mainly hunted for their skin.

The conviction comes as a big blow to Bollywood as there is almost Rs 500 crores riding on him with films like Remo D'Souza's Race 3, Bharat by Ali Abbas Zafar, Dabbang 3 in the pipeline.