Appeals in 1998 Blackbuck Poaching Case Involving Salman Khan, Others Listed for July 28 in Rajasthan High Court

In a key development in the long-running 1998 blackbuck poaching case, the Rajasthan High Court has scheduled hearings on appeals involving Bollywood actor Salman Khan and others for July 28.

The high-profile case, which has drawn national attention for over two decades, pertains to the alleged poaching of two blackbucks in Kankani village near Jodhpur in September 1998, during the shooting of the film Ham Saath Saath Hain.

The court will hear the Rajasthan government’s appeal challenging the acquittal of actors Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Neelam, and Tabu, who were previously cleared of charges in the case. Alongside this, Salman Khan’s appeal against his conviction will also be taken up.

Salman Khan was convicted in 2018 and sentenced to five years in prison for hunting protected animals under the Wildlife Protection Act, though he was later granted bail. The other actors were acquitted by a lower court, a verdict that the state government has been seeking to overturn.

The case has remained one of Bollywood’s most controversial legal battles, highlighting the intersection of celebrity, wildlife protection, and the Indian judicial process.

The Rajasthan High Court’s decision to list the appeals marks a significant step in the judicial proceedings, and the hearing on July 28 is expected to be closely watched.