Salman Khan has been sentenced for five years in jail over 1998 blackbuck poaching case.
5th April 2018 has been a sad day for Bollywood, as one of its superstars Salman Khan was sentenced for five years in jail for killing a blackbuck in 1998. The Jodhpur Court announced the verdict over 1998 Blackbuck Poaching Case on Thursday. It involved the Tiger Zinda Hai actor Salman Khan as well as his Hum Saath Saath Hain co-star Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Sonali Bendre and Neelam Kothari. The actor was convicted while the others walked out of the court free. As soon as the conviction was announced, reactions started pouring in from all the quarters, majority voicing in favour of the actor.
Many celebrities and non-celebrities who shared a rapport with Salman Khan during the reality TV Show Bigg Boss openly voiced their opinions against the judgement. Bigg Boss 11 runner-up Vikas Gupta said that Salman Khan paid the price of being a superstar. Winner Shilpa Shinde was also disappointed with the punishment given to the actor by the court.
Recently, Bigg Boss 11's former contestant Arshi Khan spoke to India TV. She expressed her disappointment in the legal system for singling out Salman Khan while acquitting the other co-accused. She said, "Some rebate should've been levied during Salman Khan's verdict. He committed the mistake 20 years ago but also has done a number of humanitarian deeds. On this ground, he shouldn't have been punished so severely."
TV actor Anjan Srivastav also said that it's wrong to torment the actor so much when he admitted and rectified the mistake he committed 20 years ago.
Former Bigg Boss 11 contestant Sapna Chaudhary also voiced her opinion on Salman Khan's verdict. Talking to India TV, she said, "I am unhappy with the verdict. I accept that he is a celebrity and has many responsibilities towards our country but he has been sentenced to five years of imprisonment and I am very sad."
Earlier on Friday, Bollywood actress, Preity Zinta visited Salman Khan in Jodhpur Jail. The meeting went on for around half an hour. Twitterati hailed the actress for standing by her friend during his toughest time. Many celebrities flocked at Salman Khan’s residence in Mumbai to be with his family.
The decision of Salman Khan’s bail in the blackbuck poaching case is likely to come at 10.30 am on Saturday. Till then, the actor has to spend his nights in the Jodhpur Central Jail, which also houses Asaram Bapu.
