Blackbuck poaching case: Salman Khan’s appeal against Rajasthan High Court's verdict to be heard on July 4

The hearing of Salman Khan's appeal against Rajasthan High Court's verdict in the blackbuck poaching case has been adjourned for the day and the Jodhpur Court has set a new hearing date for a fresh hearing on July 4. In February this year, the 'Dabangg' actor filed a plea challenging the verdict of the court and the hearing of the case has been scheduled today on April 3. In his appeal, the actor had challenged the Rajasthan High Court's verdict against his 5-year jail sentence for killing blackbucks and had appealed to the sessions court.

Salman Khan was sentenced to 5-years imprisonment in the 1998 Blackbuck poaching case for killing the endangered species Blackbuck in Kankani near Jodhpur in the year 1998. when he was shooting for the film Hum Saath Saath Hai with co-stars Ali Khan, Tabu, Sonali Bendre and Neelam.

Last year, while his co-stars and a local named Dushyant Singh was acquitted of all charges by the court, Salman Khan, however, was charged under Section 51 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act and others under Section 51 read with Section 149 (unlawful assembly) of the Indian Penal Code and was sentenced to 5 years in jail and a fine of Rs 10, 000.

Last year when the punishment was announced, Salman Khan's lawyer Anand Desai said in a statement, "ln the present case the Hon'ble Court has acquitted all the 5 co-accused which would imply that Salman was out hunting alone in the middle of the night in a remote area outside Jodhpur. We have preferred an appeal to the Hon'ble Sessions Court and applied for an urgent hearing today ."

The superstar was later granted bail in a couple of days on a bond of Rs.50,000 and two sureties of like amount. The Jodhpur District and Sessions Court in May granted permission to Salman Khan to travel outside India.

On the work front, he will be next seen in Bharat that releases on June 5 and also stars Katrina Kaif, Disha Patani, Tabu and Sunil Grover in key roles.