Jodhpur court stays Salman's jail term

Jodhpur: A Jodhpur Sessions Court has stayed the one-year jail sentence against Bollywood actor Salman Khan in the chinkara hunting case.

Salman had appealed to the Sessions Court after the hearing on February 17 and the next hearing is scheduled to be on April 12.

On February 17, the court of the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate in Jodhpur had found Khan guilty in the deer poaching case under Section 51 of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act and had sentenced him to one-year imprisonment.

He was also been fined Rs 5,000 by the court. However, all other accused - including actor Satish Shah – had been acquitted.

Though the judgement came as a huge blow to the superstar, it may not be the final word. Salman had decided to challenge the verdict in the High Court.

The star gang comprising actor Satish Shah and seven others were charged with the killing of two Chinkaras (Indian gazelles) in the Bhavad village near Jodhpur while shooting for the film Hum Saath Saath Hain.

The two actors and four others were booked under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, by the Jodhpur Police in Mathania Police Station for hunting the endangered species of deer.

The final arguments on behalf of the accused were made in the court on February 4.

However, the case had become weak over the years and the only eyewitness has been absconding for over two years.

Chinkara is an endangered species and is protected by law.

The case filed under the Wildlife (Protection) Act of 1972 may invite a maximum of six years in prison if convicted on charges of poaching.

Salman was arrested earlier in the case and granted bail while others had secured anticipatory bail.

Rumors had always existed that Salman had physically abused his former girlfriend, Pakistani actress Somy Ali. In 1999, Aishwarya Rai’s family also fueled similar tales regarding his behaviour with Aishwarya.

In the complaint, the Rais stated that they “should not be held responsible for any untoward incident involving the actor.”

Salman Khan is also charged with killing a person and injuring four by ramming his car into a bakery in suburban Bandra on September 28, 2002.

Despite the fact that a policeman was in Khan's car (Khan had been receiving police protection due to death threats from the mafia), Khan absconded from the scene.

He later claimed that he felt his life was threatened by the mob that formed after the accident, but some suspected he'd wanted to avoid a blood-alcohol test.