Blackbuck case: Saif Ali Khan, 3 other acquitted actors get HC notices

In the blackbuck poaching case, actor Salman Khan was sentenced to five years imprisonment by the chief judicial magistrate court (Jodhpur district) on April 5 last year. Co-accused actors Saif Ali Khan, Neelam, Tabu and Sonali Bendre and the local resident were given the benefit of the doubt and acquitted.

The Rajasthan high court has issued notices to Bollywood actors Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Sonali Bendre, Neelam and a local resident, Dushyant Singh, in connection with the hunting of two blackbucks in 1998.

Actor Saif Ali Khan arrives at the airport in Jodhpur on April 4, 2018 ahead of a verdict in the long-running blackbuck poaching case. Saif and three other actors -- Tabu, Neelam and Sonali Bendre - were given the benefit of the doubt and acquitted.(PTI File)

The state government had filed a leave-to-appeal in the high court against the acquittal of the five accused.

Bollywood actor Salman Khan is accused of poaching two blackbucks at Kankani village in Jodhpur in October 1-2, 1998. Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Tabu and Neelam and Dushyant Singh were charged with instigating Khan to poach the animals.

Salman Khan was sentenced to five years imprisonment by the chief judicial magistrate court (Jodhpur district) on April 5 last year. Co-accused actors and the local resident were given the benefit of the doubt and acquitted.

“The leave-to-appeal was filed against acquitting the five co-accused. We told the court that the trial court in its judgment has admitted that the five co-accused were with Salman, the main accused, during blackbucks’ hunting, but they were acquitted by giving them benefit of doubt,” said additional public prosecutor Mahipal Vishnoi.