Blackbuck verdict: All you need to know about Salman Khan's case

Salman Khan has always been the controversy's favorite child and has always been surrounded by one or the other row. The superstar's controversial life has once again hogged the limelight as the Jodhpur court will be announcing its much-awaited verdict on 1998 black-poaching case.

The Sultan actor along with Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Neelam and Tabu were accused of killing two blackbucks during the shooting of their movie Hum Saath Saath Hain in 1998.

The incident had left the Bishnoi community quite miffed who then filed a complaint against the actors.

The accused are facing charges under Section 51 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act and the other actors have been charged under Section 51 read with Section 149 (unlawful assembly) of the Indian Penal Code. The maximum punishment under Section 51 is six years.

So as the Jodhpur court pronounced its verdict, here's everything you want to know about the 1998 Blackbuck poaching case:

# Salman Khan was convicted by Jodhpur court in the blackbuck poaching case. However, the other accused Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Sonali Bendre and Neelam were acquitted by the court.

# “All of them were in a Gypsy car that night, with Salman Khan in the driving seat. He, on spotting a herd of black bucks, shot at and killed two of them,” Public Prosecutor Bhawani Singh Bhati had said.

“But on being spotted and chased, they fled from the spot leaving the dead animals there,” he said, adding that there was adequate evidence against them.

# Denying these allegations, Salman Khan’s counsel H M Saraswat said there were several loopholes in the prosecution’s story and it had failed to prove its case beyond any doubt. “Prosecution has failed to prove the allegations. It engaged in tampering and fabricating evidence and documents as well as roping in fake witnesses to prove its case,” he said.

# November 11, 2016: SC issued a notice to Salman on an appeal by the Rajasthan government challenging his acquittal in blackbuck poaching case. 

# July 25, 2016: The day came as a major relief for Salman as the Rajasthan High Court acquitted Salman Khan of all charges in the blackbuck poaching case. He was acquitted due to lack of evidence as the court stated that there was no proof about if the animals were shot dead by Salman's licensed gun.

# August 31, 2006: Salman Khan's sentence was suspended by the Rajasthan Court and the actor was ordered not to leave the country without formal permission.

# April 10, 2006: The Sultan actor was convicted in the case and was sentenced to five years of imprisonment along with a fine. However, he was granted bail after spending a week behind the bars

# October 2, 1998: The Bishnoi community had filed a police complaint accusing actors Salman Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Tabu and Neelam for killing two blackbucks. The celebs were shooting for their movie Hum Sath Sath Hain in Rajasthan's Jodhpur.