Salman Khan sentenced to 5 years in jail in blackbuck poaching case, see pics

Salman Khan was today convicted and sentenced to five years of imprisonment by a Jodhpur court in the 1998 blackbuck poaching case.

The trial court also imposed Rs 10,000 fine along with five years of imprisonment on Salman. Salman was found guilty under Section 9/51 of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 for killing two blackbucks, an endangered species, hunting of which is prohibited by law.

Salman is being taken to Jodhpur Central Jail. If the sentence was less than three years of jail, the actor could have applied for bail in the same court. However, he will now have to approach the sessions court for bail. Read LIVE story on Salman Khan's bail hearing

The actor's case was represented by defence counsel Hastimal Saraswat. The judgement was pronounced by Chief Justice Magistrate Dev Kumar Khatri at a hearing attended by Salman's sisters Alvira and Arpita.

The trial of the case was in progress since the last 19 years and the judge in a court here had reserved the order after the final arguments on March 28.

Salman Khan, who was shooting for Race 3 in Abu Dhabi arrived in Mumbai in the early hours on Wednesday and reached Jodhpur yesterday. 

The actor was accused of killing two black bucks on October 2, 1998 in Kankani village in Jodhpur during the shooting of "Hum Saath Saath Hain".Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, and Tabu, who were also shooting for the film, are the co-accused in the case.

Salman was snapped by shutterbugs at the airport with his sister Alvira Agnihotri.   

Salman's younger sister Arpita Khan Sharma along with her son Ahil accompanied the actor at the airport. 

Salman Khan has been convicted in Blackbuck poaching case. Other actors who were accused have been acquitted by Jodhpur case on Thursday.