Salman Khan acquitted in 18-year-old chinkara poaching cases

The Rajasthan High Court on Monday acquitted Bollywood actor Salman Khan in two 18-year-old chinkara poaching cases.

Salman had appealed before the Jodhpur bench of the High Court, challenging a lower court verdict in 2006 handing him a one and five-years term in the two separate cases of poaching. Salman and the state government had appealed before the High Court challenging the lower court’s verdicts on various grounds.

Justice Nirmaljit Kaur, on Monday, while allowing Salman’s appeal, acquitted him of all charges and also dismissed the state government’s appeal for enhancing the sentences. The hearing was completed in the last week of May and the order reserved.

“He has been acquitted in both the cases by the high court,” said Salman’s counsel Hastimal Saraswat.

Khan was accused of killing chinkaras in two separate incidents. One animal was said to have been killed at Bhawad on the outskirts of Jodhpur on 26 September 1998 and the other at Ghoda Farms on 28 September 1998. Shooting for the film Hum Saath Saath Hain was on at the time. Salman was earlier lodged in the Jodhpur jail over the cases.

Salman’s sister Alvira was present in a jam packed court room when the judgment was pronounced.