NEW DELHI - Status bad boy tampaknya masih tersemat dalam sosok Salman Khan . Di tengah kesibukannya syuting dan promosi film terbarunya, Salman harus menghadapi fakta bahwa dirinya telah dinyatakan bersalah dan dihukum 5 tahun penjara.
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Pada Kamis (5/4/2018), kepolisian India menahan Salman setelah pengadilan India menyatakan sang aktor bersalah dalam kasus perburuan satwa liar, antelope. Salman dan sejumlah rekannya dituduh telah membunuh satwa langka tersebut dalam perburuan pada 1 Oktober 1998 silam.
Salman dijatuhi hukuman berdasar pasal 51 Undang-Undang Perlindungan Satwa Liar. Sementara rekan-rekannya yang lain menghadapi tuntutan pasal 51 dan 149 berdasar KUHP India. Maksimal hukuman berdasar pasal 51 tersebut adalah 6 tahun.
Dua dekade silam, Salman berburu di daerah desa Kankani, Jodhpur bersama Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Neelam dan Tabu. Dalam perburuan tersebut, Salman dituduh telah membunuh dua antelope yang kala itu berada dalam status satwa langka.
Kuasa hukum Salman berniat mengajukan masa percobaan atas hukuman yang dijatuhkan pada aktor 52 tahun itu. Apalagi kuasa hukum Salman melihat adanya celah dalam putusan yang dibuat hakim.
Menurut HM Saraswat, kuasa hukum Salman, pengadilan gagal menunjukkan bukti kuat yang menunjukkan bintang Tiger Zinda Hai itu membunuh dua antelope. Lebih jauh, Saraswat menuduh pengadilan merekayasa bukti.
"Jaksa gagal membuktikan tuduhan atas terdakwa dan telah merusak dan merekayasa bukti serta dokumen dan juga menggunakan saksi palsu untuk membuktikan kasus ini," ujar Saraswati seperti dilansir Times of India .
Ia melanjutkan, "Mereka gagal membuktikan jika kedua antelope itu dibunuh dengan senjata api. Oleh karena itu penyelidikan semacam ini tidak dapat dipercaya."
Baca Juga: Gengsi, Katrina Kaif Tolak Sebut Salman Khan Sebagai Mentor
Sebelumnya, Salman mengaku jika dirinya dijebak. Mantan Katrina Kaif ini mengklaim jika kedua antelope itu meninggal karena sebab wajar, bukan karena dibunuh olehnya menggunakan senjata api seperti dituduhkan padanya.
(CNN) Bollywood superstar Salman Khan has been sentenced to serve five years in prison after being convicted of illegal poaching in a decades-old case, prosecutors said Thursday.
Bhawani Singh, a public prosecutor working on the case, told reporters outside the court that Khan can appeal the decision to a higher court. If Khan's appeal is accepted, he could be granted bail or have his sentence suspended.
Khan, one of India's most recognizable and bankable actors, was found guilty of killing two blackbucks, a type of antelope found in the country, while working on a film in the northwestern Indian state of Rajasthan in the 1998. He was also fined 10,000 Indian rupees ($150).
Prosecutors alleged the 52-year-old shot the two blackbucks while out driving with some of his co-stars.
Khan pleaded not guilty and has long maintained his innocence as the case has languished in legal limbo over the years. Khan's lawyers said he was carrying an air gun, which cannot be used for hunting an antelope.
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Bollywood star Salman Khan was on Thursday sentenced to five years in prison after Dabangg actor was convicted of killing two blackbucks in Rajasthan. Khan has been asked to pay a fine of Rs 10,000 in the 19-year-old case. However, Khan's co-stars Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Sonali Bendre and Neelam who were also accused have been acquitted.
In 1998, while filming for Sooraj Barjatya's Hum Saath Saath Hain, Salman Khan along with his co-actors Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Sonali Bendre and Neelam were charged with poaching blackbucks near Kankani village in Jodhpur. Blackbucks or the Indian antelope is a kind of endangered species that's protected under the Wildlife Protection Act.
According to reports, Salman Khan and his co-stars went for an alleged hunting session during the shooting of the film and killed two blackbucks. The Bishnoi community, angered by this occurrence filed a complaint against the stars. Khan was also charged for keeping an arm under an expired arms licence but was later acquitted by a trial court.
Khan was also accused of allegedly killing two chinkaras or Indian gazelle in Bhawad and another in Mathania, both in Rajasthan, He was later acquitted by the Rajasthan High Court in 2016 for the poaching of chinkaras.
Last week, final arguments from both the parties were presented. Here are the LIVE updates of the verdict.
7:07pm: The actor has also been assigned inmate number 106 at the Jodhpur Central Jail.
#SalmanKhan has been given number 106 & is lodged in Ward number 2. He was made to undergo medical test & has no medical issues. He hasn't made any demands. We'll give him jail uniform tomorrow. Multiple-layer security has been put up for his ward: Vikram Singh, Jodhpur DIG(Jail) pic.twitter.com/MTjY7PlVRj - ANI (@ANI) April 5, 2018
7:05pm: Salman Khan allotted barrack number 2, which is also known as Derh Barrack.
5:38pm: Visuals from Jodhpur jail premises.
5:33pm: Salman Khan's lawyers issue a statement, say that the judgment implies that Khan was out hunting alone in the middle of the night at a remote area in Jodhpur.
Official statement by Salman Khan's lawyers: pic.twitter.com/n9o5XQwTmS - Komal Nahta (@KomalNahta) April 5, 2018
4:35pm: "We are happy for us but we are disappointed for #SalmanKhan. Justice has not been given properly in this case. I am feeling bad for him," says Samir Soni, actor and husband of actress Neelam.
We are happy for us but we are disappointed for #SalmanKhan. Justice has not been given properly in this case. I am feeling bad for him: Samir Soni, actor and husband of actress Neelam #BlackbuckPoachingCasepic.twitter.com/V65Dm9rkGY - ANI (@ANI) April 5, 2018
4:03pm: Actor Arjun Rampal too said he was disappointed with the verdict. He says that the sentence is too harsh and that his heart goes out to Salman Khan and his family.
The law takes its course. Can't argue it. But at this point in time I just feel helpless and my heart goes out to @BeingSalmanKhan and his family. Reason, cause the last thing @BeingSalmanKhan is, is a criminal.I feel this is too harsh. I do hope he gets the relief he deserves. - arjun rampal (@rampalarjun) April 5, 2018
3:57pm: Filmmaker Subhash Ghai expressed his disappointement on the verdict. "I am extremely shocked to hear Salman Khan being convicted by session court but also having full trust in indian judiciary which has many other doors to appeal for final justice whatsoever. Since He is most loved person by industry N people for his human reasons too,"he tweeted.
I am extremely shocked to hear @BeingSalmanKhan being convicted by session court but also having full trust in indian judiciary which has many other doors to appeal for final justice whatsoever. Since He is most loved person by industry N people for his human reasons too. - Subhash Ghai (@SubhashGhai1) April 5, 2018
3:40pm: Hearing in the bail application to take place tomorrow in Jodhpur Session Court.
3:38pm: "I feel bad. He should be given relief. He has done a lot of humanitarian work," says Jaya Bachchan, Rajya Sabha MP.
I feel bad. He should be given relief. He has done a lot of humanitarian work: Jaya Bachchan, Rajya Sabha MP on #SalmanKhan#BlackBuckPoachingCasepic.twitter.com/VUEM0RIweE - ANI (@ANI) April 5, 2018
3:37pm: Members of the Bishnoi community celebrate outside the court.
Rajasthan: Members of Bishnoi community celebrate outside Jodhpur Court after the Court pronounced 5-year-imprisonment to Salman Khan in #BlackBuckPoachingCasepic.twitter.com/GqGLn3dMYh - ANI (@ANI) April 5, 2018
3:10pm: The actor will have to spend the night at Jodhpur prison.
3:04pm: Salman Khan's lawyers have moved a bail application in the session court.
2:54pm: The actor will first undergo a medical examination and then to the jail.
Rajasthan: Salman Khan being brought out of Jodhpur Court. He has been awarded 5-year-imprisonment in #BlackBuckPoachingCase. pic.twitter.com/S69hprkKFP - ANI (@ANI) April 5, 2018
2:50pm: Salman Khan has been taken into custody.
2:29pm: While Khan's legal team is back to work, the Bishnoi community and supporters celebrate the sentencing, as mentioned in a report by News18.
2:19pm: Khan could appeal in the Rajasthan High Court against this verdict.
2:16pm: The actor will be taken straight to Jodhpur Central Jail.
2:11pm: Salman Khan has been sentenced to five years in jail and a penalty of Rs 10,000.
Actor Salman Khan sent to jail for 5 years in #BlackBuckPoachingCase, a penalty of Rs 10,000 also levied on him. pic.twitter.com/ZgXbXBnvx4 - ANI (@ANI) April 5, 2018
1:42pm: As Salman Khan awaits the verdict, Bollywood too stands to lose over Rs 1000 crore. The actor is currently working on four movies - Race 3, Bharat, Dabangg 3 and Kick 2.
12:58pm: "We'll analyse the judgement. We want an immediate appeal to be filed against those who have been acquitted and we also demand maximum punishment for Salman Khan," says Rampal Bhawad, State President of Bishnoi Tigers Vanya Evam Paryavaran Sanstha.
We'll analyse the judgement. We want an immediate appeal to be filed against those who have been acquitted and we also demand maximum punishment for Salman Khan: Rampal Bhawad, State President, Bishnoi Tigers Vanya Evam Paryavaran Sanstha #BlackBuckPoachingCase#Rajasthanpic.twitter.com/Jfn8Pf5Jdp - ANI (@ANI) April 5, 2018
12:53pm: The public prosecutor said that the arguments over the quantum of sentence is over. Judge Dev Kumar Khatri would pronounce the sentence today itself after lunch. Meanwhile, the other accused have left the premises of Jodhpur court.
12:48pm: "The sentence has not been pronounced as of now," Bhawani Singh, Public Prosecutor says.
The sentence has not been pronounced as of now: Bhawani Singh, Public Prosecutor on Salman Khan #BlackBuckPoachingCasepic.twitter.com/QDdhuhmrk9 - ANI (@ANI) April 5, 2018
12:46pm: The quantam has not been announced. According to News18, when lawyers showed the victory sign, reporters believed it to be two years.
12:28pm: Salman Khan sentenced to two years in prison. He is likely to get bail on Thursday itself. He also also been fined Rs 50,000.
12:11pm: Dushyant Singh, a local who was also accused with the actors has been acquitted.
12:10pm: The post-mortem report along with witness accounts nailed the actor, a report in The Indian Express mentions.
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12:07pm: The actor will be taken to Jodhpur Central Jail that also currently houses Asaram Bapu, Malkhan Singh Vishnoi and Shambhu Lal Regar.
12:05pm: Salman Khan, who has been convicted under Section 51 of the Wildlife Protection Act could be sentenced to maximum six years in prison. If he is sentenced for three years, the star could appeal for bail.
12:03pm: Bishnoi Sabha to appeal against the acquittal of Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Sonali Bendre and Neelam.
11:59am: Salman Khan's counsels are praying for probation.
Argument on quantum of punishment is on. Salman Khan's counsels are praying for probation: NS Solanki, lawyer of Dushyant Singh who was co-accused in blackbuck poaching case #Jodhpurpic.twitter.com/2G5ahqHFWl - ANI (@ANI) April 5, 2018
11:50am: Quantum of the sentence will be announced shortly.
11:45am: The court found sufficient evidence against Salman Khan. Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Sonali Bendre and Neelam were given the benefit of doubt.
11:40am: Salman Khan has been convicted of killing the blackbucks, but the rest of the accused have been acquitted.
Actor says he will appeal against sentence after being convicted of poaching blackbucks in 1998
The Bollywood superstar Salman Khan has been sentenced to five years in jail for poaching a protected species of Indian antelope, in the latest twist to an off-screen life almost as dramatic as the epics he has starred in.
A court in Rajasthan state on Thursday found Khan, one of the world’s best-paid actors, guilty of illegally hunting the two blackbucks from his car window while filming in Jodhpur in 1998.
Public prosecutors alleged that Khan, 52, and four other actors in the car with him fled the scene when they were spotted, leaving the animals’ carcasses behind.
The other actors, among them Saif Ali Khan and Sonali Bendre, were acquitted by the court in Jodhpur for lack of evidence.
India’s wildlife protection act bans the hunting of all but a few species of wild animals without a special permit.
As well as the five-year sentence the court also fined Khan 10,000 rupees (£109). His lawyers said they would appeal against the decision. and an urgent bail hearing had been scheduled for 10.30am on Friday.
Khan was taken to Jodhpur central jail after visiting a local hospital for a medical examination.
ANI (@ANI) Rajasthan: #SalmanKhan in Jodhpur Central Jail premises. #BlackBuckPoachingCase pic.twitter.com/9b8NIEQEpy
Hundreds of police had surrounded the courtroom in Jodhpur to keep back fans of the actor, known for his bad-boy image and macho film roles.
Khan has long maintained that he was framed by forest officials “for publicity” and that the blackbucks could have died from natural causes such as overeating.
Khan’s lawyer Anand Desai said in a statement he was surprised by the judgment as the facts of the case mirrored those the Rajasthan high court had relied on to suspend his client’s conviction for the same crime in 2007.
He also questioned why the other accused has been let free, which he said implied “that Salman was out hunting alone in the middle of the night in a remote area outside Jodhpur”.
At the time of the poaching, blackbucks were regarded as a vulnerable animal, but have since been reclassified as a species of “least concern”, though they remain protected by Indian wildlife regulations.
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Salman Khan with Kareena Kapoor in the 2011 film Bodyguard. Photograph: PR Image
Khan has a history of brushes with the law. In 2015, he was acquitted of killing a homeless man in a hit-and-run incident in 2002, a decision now being challenged in the supreme court.
His fellow Bollywood star Aishwarya Rai, a former girlfriend, accused Khan of verbal and physical abuse in a 2002 interview – allegations Khan has denied.
Khan was first arrested in the poaching case in October 1998 after reports emerged that he had hunted the two antelopeand at least three other gazelles.
Eight years later, he was convicted of killing the blackbucks and sentenced to five years in prison, a decision he appealed to the Rajasthan high court, which suspended the sentence in August 2007 after the actor had spent two short stints in jail.
The charges were revised and laid again the following year, and have hung over Khan for the past decade, preventing him from obtaining a UK visa in 2013 until the Rajasthan government asked the court to give him leeway to travel.
In 2016, he was acquitted of separate poaching charges relating to the gazelles.
The allegations of poaching against the actor were first made by a member of the Bishnoi community in Rajasthan, a sect that considers blackbucks to be a reincarnation of their 15th-century guru.
Poonamchand Bishnoi reportedly told the court he had heard gunshots and saw headlights the night of the poaching and wrote down the registration number of the hunter’s car as it sped away.
Members of the sect who were gathered outside the court cheered as the verdict was read and Khan was led into a police vehicle.
Cases in India’s overburdened legal system can take years to be processed but the lingering poaching charges have failed to dampen the often obsessive devotion Khan commands from his fans.
“Khan’s bad-boy image has sustained him from the beginning of his career,” said Anna MM Vetticad, an Indian film industry journalist and author.
“The frequent reports of drunken misbehaviour in public, indiscipline at work and girlfriend abuse, along with the hit-and-run and poaching cases that finally landed him in court, have contributed greatly to fan enthusiasm for him.”
His mostly male followers see something of their own struggles in those of the man they call “Salman-bhai”, or Salman-brother, she added. “To them, [he] is a golden-hearted man-child whose charitable trust is reason enough to forgive him for what they consider mere human failings.”
He earned $37m (£26m) last year, according to Forbes, making him India’s second-highest paid entertainer after Shah Rukh Khan.
His latest film, Tiger Zinda Hai, about a soldier who goes into Iraq to rescue hostages from Islamic State, collected about $85m worldwide.
