The Jodhpur court has rejected actor Salman Khan’s appeal in the black buck case. The actor will have to serve a 5 year sentence. An arrest warrant would be issued to Salman Khan by the lower court.
The actor was not present in court on Friday. Instead his sister Alvira Khan appeared on his behalf and petitioned the court to defer the hearing.
However, the court rejected both the plea for deferring the hearing as well as Salman's original appeal against his conviction, with the courts closed over the weekend. Salman was accused of poaching a chinkara on the outskirts of Jodhpur near Mathania on the night of September 27, 1998, while shooting for his film Hum Saath Saath Hain.
On Thursday, he was shooting in Hyderabad for Pokhiri, a remake of a Tamil hit, but on Friday he has not been seen.
However, the court rejected both the plea for deferring the hearing as well as Salman's original appeal against his conviction, with the courts closed over the weekend. Salman was accused of poaching a chinkara on the outskirts of Jodhpur near Mathania on the night of September 27, 1998, while shooting for his film Hum Saath Saath Hain.
On Thursday, he was shooting in Hyderabad for Pokhiri, a remake of a Tamil hit, but on Friday he has not been seen.
If Salman has to appeal against Friday's order in the Rajasthan High Court, he has to surrender first. If he surrenders on Friday, he can move a bail application immediately, but he will have to spend Saturday and Sunday in jail as they are holidays.
Salman's lawyers have said they will file an appeal in the HC on Monday asking the court to give him three or four days to surrender. So on Monday, they will file an appeal asking that he be given time to surrender, then after four, five days, will file an appeal against the conviction. This is to enable him to stay out of jail for as long as possible. But there are holidays coming up on August 28 and 31, which means there could be more delays. If Salman doesn't surrender within a reasonable time period then non-bailable warrants will be put out against him.
Meanwhile, Mahipal Vishnoi, who led the campaign against Salman Khan, expressed joy at the verdict. There was also jubilation in the Bishnoi community in Rajasthan for whom the Chinkara is sacred.
Salman's lawyers have said they will file an appeal in the HC on Monday asking the court to give him three or four days to surrender. So on Monday, they will file an appeal asking that he be given time to surrender, then after four, five days, will file an appeal against the conviction. This is to enable him to stay out of jail for as long as possible. But there are holidays coming up on August 28 and 31, which means there could be more delays. If Salman doesn't surrender within a reasonable time period then non-bailable warrants will be put out against him.
Meanwhile, Mahipal Vishnoi, who led the campaign against Salman Khan, expressed joy at the verdict. There was also jubilation in the Bishnoi community in Rajasthan for whom the Chinkara is sacred.
Salman's jail term in the Black Buck poaching case could cost Bollywood big bucks. With the Jodhpur court cancelling his appeal against conviction by a lower court almost Rs 70-100 crores rising on the star could be stuck. His films which are complete or close to completion are Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Saawariya made at a whopping budget of Rs 35 crore and is due for a Diwali release. Then there is God Tussi Great Ho by Shabbo Arts which is almost complete. It has been made at Rs 15 crore and is due to be released next month. Several films have been announced with Salman like Boney Kapoor's untitled project on which 10 per cent work is complete. Tom and Jerry and Main Aur Mrs Khanna by Sohail Khan, Yuvraaj, Mera Bharat Mahaan by Samir Karnik. While his latest and first Hollywood venture Marigold is not doing too well either, the actor now has reasons to worry. But Bollywood is keeping its fingers crossed that his bail plea is heard soon.
