The actor had spent eight days in the Jodhpur central jail in 2006 after being found guilty. But, the ruling has clearly acquitted him in the case. The verdict has come as a huge relief after he the court gave a verdict in his favour, last year, in the hit-and-run case.
Chinkaras, or Indian gazelles, are a protected species and hunting these animals is banned. Moreover, in Rajasthan it is one of the revered species and the local tribes in the area were up in the arms when Salman was found shooting the animal. This was in the year 1998, when Salman and seven others from the film fraternity including Neelam, Tabu and Saif Ali Khan were accused of killing a blackbuck and a chinkara in two separate incidents. One of the animals was killed at Bhawad on the outskirts of Jodhpur on September 26, 1998, and the other at Ghoda Farms on September 28, 1998. At that time, all these actors were shooting for Sooraj Barjatya’s family drama, ‘Hum Saath Saath Hain’.
The actor was shooting for the film Hum Saath Saath Hain at that time. Two cases against Khan – black-buck hunting and possessing illegal arms – are still being heard by trial courts in the state. But, with this verdict it is clear now that Salman is now a free man.