Indian court clears Bollywood star of keeping firearms illegally
The court held that the 51-year-old actor was not guilty by giving him the “benefit of doubt.’’
Salman Khan
Recommended articles
The court in the western Indian state of Rajasthan’s Jodhpur city held that the 51-year-old actor “not guilty’’ by giving him the “benefit of doubt.’’
It said that the prosecution had not been able to prove that he used firearms to kill endangered black bucks nearly two decades ago.
During the course of the trial, Khan’s lawyer had argued that the actor only possessed air guns and there was no evidence that he had used guns to kill two black bucks, a protected antelope species in India.
ADVERTISEMENT
An eyewitness for the prosecution never showed up.
Soon after his acquittal, the actor tweeted thanking his fans for their support.
“Thank you for all the support and good wishes,’’ he wrote.
This was the third in a series of four related cases against Khan.
He has pleaded not guilty to all charges and has already been acquitted in two cases of poaching.
ADVERTISEMENT
A fourth case is being heard.
All the four cases date back to 1998 when Khan was in Jodhpur during a location shoot for his popular film “Hum Saath Saath Hain.’’
“In 2007, he spent a week in jail in Jodhpur before being granted bail in the cases.
In 2006, a trial court had convicted the actor in two related cases of poaching of Chinkara deer and sentenced him to five years in prison.
However, the Rajasthan High Court suspended the sentence the following year, and eventually acquitted him in 2016.
ADVERTISEMENT
The case is now in the Supreme Court.
Khan, who is one of Bollywood’s biggest stars, is not new to controversies.
In 2015, he was acquitted after being charged with running over and killing a homeless man in a driving accident in Mumbai.
The state government of Maharashtra has challenged the order in the Supreme Court.
JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!
ADVERTISEMENT
Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:
Email: eyewitness@pulse.ng
Recommended articles
Davido partners with United Masters to launch new record label
BFA and Co Legal Orchestrates Landmark Deal: Davido launches Nine+ Records with UnitedMasters
Phyna rejects new offers from BBNaija sponsors as meeting ends in deadlock
Disney's 'Madu' director is working on a documentary on Chibok girls 'The Harvest'
Timeline of Nelly & Ashanti's romance to expecting their first child 21 years later
Ruger & BNXN describe their joint project as 'synergy at its finest'
Daniel Oriahi's film 'The Weekend' selected for 2024 Tribeca Film Festival
Seyi Vibez was the most streamed artist in Nigeria from Jan - March 2024
I didn’t delete anything - Ruger defends tweet after accusations of promoting rape culture
Pulse Sports
Lionel Messi's son breaks the internet after scoring five goals for Inter Miami
Naija Stars Abroad: Onyedika, Boniface, and Osimhen shine across Europe
Victor Osimhen and Tobi Amusan make list of Forbes’ 30 under 30 Class of 2024
ADVERTISEMENT
