The Rajasthan state government has challenged the acquittal of actors Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Sonali Bendre, Neelam Kothari and local resident Dushyant Singh in connection with the 1998 blackbuck poaching case in which actor Salman Khan is the prime accused.
The Jodhpur court issued notices to Saif, Tabu, Bendre, Kothari, and Singh early today, as reported by ANI.
“Black Buck Poaching case: Jodhpur High Court issues a notice to Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Neelam Kothari, Tabu and Dushyant Singh on an appeal by state govt challenging their acquittal in the case by a local court. #Rajasthan,” tweeted ANI.
Black Buck Poaching case: Jodhpur High Court issues a notice to Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Neelam Kothari, Tabu and Dushyant Singh on an appeal by state govt challenging their acquittal in the case by a local court. #Rajasthan pic.twitter.com/ugq6ncUn6n
— ANI (@ANI) March 11, 2019
Salman was convicted under Section 51 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act and given a five-year prison term along with a fine of Rs10,000. Salman spent two days in Jodhpur Central Jail before being released on bail.
The poaching incidents occurred in 1998 when Salman allegedly killed two blackbucks while they were shooting for the film Hum Saath-Saath Hain (1999). Appearing in the Jodhpur local court last year, Salman had claimed that he didn’t shoot the blackbucks and they must have died of natural causes.
Saif, Tabu, Bendre, Kothari and Singh were charged under Section 144 (Unlawful assembly). The five people had allegedly accompanied Salman on a hunting spree, but they were all acquitted for lack of evidence.
In addition to the poaching of blackbucks, Salman was also accused of killing a Chinkara.