Jahidul Islam Joy at 16:24, 24 November 2025

2025-11-24T16:24:40Z

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{{Short description|Indian legal case involving Salman Khan}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}
The '''1998''' '''Blackbuck poaching case''' is a high-profile legal matter involving Bollywood actor [[Salman Khan]], accused of hunting two [[Blackbuck|blackbucks]] in Kankani village near [[Jodhpur|Jodhpur, Rajasthan]], in September 1998. [[Bishnoi|Bishnoi community]] filed a complaint against [[Salman Khan]] and his co-actors, [[Saif Ali Khan]], [[Sonali Bendre]], [[Neelam Kothari|Neelam]], and [[Tabu (actress)|Tabu]], accused of hunting two blackbucks during the shooting of the film [[Hum Saath-Saath Hain|''Hum Saath Saath Hain'']].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bollywood's Salman Khan granted bail in poaching case |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/4/7/bollywood-actor-salman-khan-granted-bail-in-poaching-case |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en |archive-date=2024-06-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240617063014/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2018/4/7/bollywood-actor-salman-khan-granted-bail-in-poaching-case |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Schultz |first=Kai |date=2018-04-05 |title=Salman Khan, Bollywood Superstar, Is Convicted of Killing Antelopes |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/05/world/asia/salman-khan-india-blackbucks.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250409182501/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/05/world/asia/salman-khan-india-blackbucks.html |archive-date=9 April 2025 |access-date=2025-01-15 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Rahman |first=Maseeh |date=2013-03-24 |title=Bollywood actors charged in poaching case |url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/mar/24/bollywood-actors-charged-poaching |access-date=2025-01-15 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
[[File:Salman Khan 2015.jpg|thumb|150px|[[Salman Khan]], main accused in 1998 blackbuck poaching case]]

== Background ==
The [[blackbuck]], also known as the Indian antelope or [[Chinkara]], is an [[Endangered species|endangered]] species protected under the [[Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972]]. The [[Bishnoi|Bishnoi community]], a religious sect found in parts of [[Rajasthan]], [[Haryana]], and [[Punjab]], reveres the blackbuck and has a long-standing tradition of protecting wildlife.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Nandini |title=Why blackbucks are more than just animals to the Bishnoi community |url=https://www.business-standard.com/india-news/why-blackbucks-are-more-than-just-animals-to-the-bishnoi-community-124101500845_1.html |access-date=15 January 2025 |website=Business Standard}}</ref>

== Incident ==
In September 1998, while filming of ''[[Hum Saath-Saath Hain]]'' in Rajasthan, [[Salman Khan]] and his co-stars [[Saif Ali Khan]], [[Sonali Bendre]], [[Neelam Kothari|Neelam]], and [[Tabu (actress)|Tabu]] were accused of hunting two [[Blackbuck|blackbucks]] in Kankani village near [[Jodhpur]]. Members of the [[Bishnoi]] community filed a complaint against these actors, leading to their arrest. Salman Khan was charged under Section 51 of the [[Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972]], while the other actors faced charges of unlawful assembly under the [[Indian Penal Code]].<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

== Legal proceedings ==
In September 1998, during the filming of the Bollywood movie ''[[Hum Saath-Saath Hain|Hum Saath Saath Hain]]'' in Rajasthan, actors [[Salman Khan]], [[Saif Ali Khan]], [[Sonali Bendre]], [[Neelam Kothari|Neelam]], and [[Tabu (actress)|Tabu]] were accused of poaching two [[Blackbuck|blackbucks]] in Kankani village, near [[Jodhpur]]. The incident occurred while the actors were on location for the film. Following the alleged hunting of the protected species, members of the [[Bishnoi|Bishnoi community]], who regard the blackbuck as sacred, filed a complaint on 2 October 1998.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=Salman Khan's old video talking about the blackbuck case resurfaces: 'I wasn't the one..' |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/htcity/cinema/salman-khan-s-old-video-talking-about-the-blackbuck-case-resurfaces-i-wasn-t-the-one-101729581956885.html |website=Hindustan Times}} ''Back in 1998, Salman Khan along with his co-stars Saif Ali Khan, Tabu and Sonali Bendre was accused of hunting down blackbucks in a village of Rajasthan while shooting for their film Hum Saath-Saath Hain (1999).''</ref><ref name=":1" />

On 12 October 1998, [[Salman Khan]] was arrested in connection with the alleged hunting of two [[Blackbuck|blackbucks]], an endangered species. Following his arrest, Khan was granted bail.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=2022-03-22 |title=1998-2022 Salman Khan blackbuck poaching case: A recap of events spanning over two decades |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/1998-2022-salman-khan-blackbuck-poaching-case-a-recap-of-events-spanning-over-two-decades/articleshow/90373213.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2025-01-15 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389}}</ref>

In April 2006, a trial court found [[Salman Khan]] guilty under the [[Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972|Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972]], for the illegal hunting of two [[Blackbuck|blackbucks]], an endangered species, in Rajasthan. The court sentenced Khan to five years of imprisonment and imposed a fine of ₹25,000. However, Salman Khan appealed the verdict, and in subsequent years, the case underwent various legal challenges and developments.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Salman gets 5 yrs for poaching and sent to Jodhpur jail |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20060411/main1.htm |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=The Tribune |archive-date=2021-03-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210323164455/https://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20060411/main1.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

In August 2007, [[Salman Khan]] appealed to the Jodhpur court against his conviction in the blackbuck poaching case. However, the court rejected the appeal and upheld the five-year imprisonment sentence. Shortly thereafter, the [[Rajasthan High Court]] intervened and suspended the five-year sentence, allowing Khan to remain out of prison pending further legal proceedings. However, as part of the conditions for his release, the court ordered that Khan obtain formal permission from the court before undertaking any foreign travel.<ref name=":0" />

In 2012, a bench of the [[Rajasthan High Court]] framed charges against all the accused in the blackbuck poaching case, including [[Salman Khan]]. Khan was charged under Section 9/51 of the [[Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972|Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972]], for the illegal hunting of the endangered species. However, in November 2013, Justice Nirmal Jeet Kaur of the [[Rajasthan High Court]] stayed the five-year imprisonment sentence that had been imposed on Khan by the lower court in 2006. This stay was granted to allow [[Salman Khan]] to apply for a UK visa for a film shoot.<ref>{{Cite web |title=High Court stays Salman's conviction, paves way for UK visa |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/high-court-stays-salmans-conviction-2294169 |access-date=15 January 2025 |website=Deccan Herald}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-11-13 |title=High Court stays Salman Khan's conviction,paves way for UK visa |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/high-court-stays-salman-khans-conviction-paves-way-for-uk-visa/ |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=The Indian Express |language=en |archive-date=2015-05-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150503200200/http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/bollywood/high-court-stays-salman-khans-conviction-paves-way-for-uk-visa/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In January 2015, the [[Supreme Court of India]] revoked the stay order issued by the [[Rajasthan High Court]] on Salman Khan's five-year imprisonment sentence, which had been imposed by a lower court in 2006. The Supreme Court ruled that a person's conviction should not be stayed simply because they were seeking an international visa.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Salman Khan Can't Travel to Britain Because of This Supreme Court Order |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/salman-khan-cant-travel-to-britain-because-of-this-supreme-court-order-726928#:~:text=New%20Delhi:%20Actor%20Salman%20Khan,to%20get%20a%20British%20visa. |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=www.ndtv.com |language=en |archive-date=2020-03-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200319044347/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/salman-khan-cant-travel-to-britain-because-of-this-supreme-court-order-726928#:~:text=New%20Delhi:%20Actor%20Salman%20Khan,to%20get%20a%20British%20visa. |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Actor Salman Khan, Seeking UK Visa, Rebuked by Supreme Court |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/actor-salman-khan-seeking-uk-visa-rebuked-by-supreme-court-689120 |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=www.ndtv.com |language=en |archive-date=2022-08-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220812152853/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/actor-salman-khan-seeking-uk-visa-rebuked-by-supreme-court-689120 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 25 July 2016, the [[Rajasthan High Court]] acquitted actor Salman Khan in the 1998 black buck poaching case, citing insufficient evidence to prove that the deceased blackbucks were killed by a firearm owned or used by Khan.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bothra |first=Dinesh |title=Rajasthan high court acquits Salman Khan in Chinkara poaching cases |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/rajasthan-high-court-acquits-salman-khan-in-chinkara-poaching-cases/story-tzvGmoZVZX4gyZRTNxZ3OO.html |access-date=15 January 2025 |website=Hindustan Times |date=25 July 2016 |archive-date=8 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181008014750/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/rajasthan-high-court-acquits-salman-khan-in-chinkara-poaching-cases/story-tzvGmoZVZX4gyZRTNxZ3OO.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2016-07-25 |title=Bollywood's Salman Khan freed in poaching case |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-36881171 |access-date=2025-01-15 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> Following this decision, the [[Government of Rajasthan|Rajasthan government]] appealed the acquittal in the [[Supreme Court of India|Supreme Court]] in October 2016. Subsequently, the Supreme Court agreed to fast-track the trial, with proceedings set to move forward in November 2016.

On 5 April 2018, a Jodhpur court sentenced [[Salman Khan]] to five years in prison and imposed a penalty of ₹10,000 in connection with the 1998 blackbuck poaching case. However, the other four accused, [[Saif Ali Khan]], [[Sonali Bendre]], [[Tabu (actress)|Tabu]], and [[Neelam Kothari]], were acquitted.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2018-04-05 |title=Salman Khan gets 5 years in jail: The personal, professional life of superstar who was a bad boy |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/salman-khan-gets-5-years-in-jail-the-personal-professional-life-of-superstar-who-was-a-bad-boy/story-0Dha9xUEkGJbWkaD5hWaGP.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240705054917/https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/salman-khan-gets-5-years-in-jail-the-personal-professional-life-of-superstar-who-was-a-bad-boy/story-0Dha9xUEkGJbWkaD5hWaGP.html |archive-date=2024-07-05 |access-date=2025-01-15 |work=Hindustan Times |language=en-us |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2018-04-05 |title=Salman Khan gets 5-year jail term |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/salman-khan-gets-5-year-jail-term/article61869668.ece |access-date=2025-01-15 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=5 April 2018 |title=Bollywood star sentenced to five years in prison for poaching antelope |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2018/04/05/reformed-bollywood-bad-boy-salman-khan-convicted-of-poaching-deer-after-20-years/ |access-date=15 January 2025 |newspaper=The Washington Post |archive-date=7 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307141900/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2018/04/05/reformed-bollywood-bad-boy-salman-khan-convicted-of-poaching-deer-after-20-years/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Following the verdict, [[Salman Khan]] was granted bail on 7 April 2018 by the Jodhpur Sessions Court, under the bench of Justice Joshi.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-04-07 |title=Salman Khan walks out of jail, bail in blackbuck case caps 2 days of drama in Jodhpur |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/salman-khan-walks-out-of-jail-bail-in-blackbuck-case-caps-2-days-of-drama-in-jodhpur-1207028-2018-04-07 |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=India Today |language=en |archive-date=2024-02-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240224191201/https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/salman-khan-walks-out-of-jail-bail-in-blackbuck-case-caps-2-days-of-drama-in-jodhpur-1207028-2018-04-07 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2018-04-07 |title=Salman Khan, Bollywood superstar, bailed in poaching case |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-43680900 |access-date=2025-01-15 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

In March 2022, the [[Rajasthan High Court]] granted permission to transfer two petitions related to the blackbuck poaching case from the Jodhpur District and Sessions Court to the High Court. This transfer was made to ensure that all matters concerning [[Salman Khan]] in the case would be heard and adjudicated at the [[Rajasthan High Court]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-03-21 |title=Salman Khan's 1998 blackbuck poaching case gets transferred to Rajasthan High Court |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/salman-khans-1998-blackbuck-poaching-case-gets-transferred-to-rajasthan-high-court/articleshow/90357151.cms |access-date=2025-01-15 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257 |archive-date=2023-05-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531160703/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/salman-khans-1998-blackbuck-poaching-case-gets-transferred-to-rajasthan-high-court/articleshow/90357151.cms |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2022-03-22 |title=Salman Khan's 1998 Blackbuck Poaching Case Transferred To Rajasthan High Court |url=https://news.abplive.com/entertainment/salman-khan-s-1998-blackbuck-poaching-case-transferred-to-rajasthan-high-court-1520932 |access-date=2025-01-15 |website=ABP News |language=en}}</ref>

== References ==

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Poaching]]
[[Category:Salman Khan]]
[[Category:Indian case law]]
[[Category:Environmental issues in India]]
[[Category:Animal cruelty incidents]]
[[Category:1998 in India]]
[[Category:Wildlife conservation in India]]
[[Category:1998 crimes in India]]

1998 blackbuck poaching case - Revision history

Jahidul Islam Joy at 16:24, 24 November 2025