Salman Khan acquittal: What actually happened in court and why he was acquitted

After the verdict, Salman Khan smiled and shook hands with his sister and bodyguard who also looked relieved.

Updated: January 18, 2017 3:18 PM IST

By Vaibhav Tiwari

Salman Khan
Salman Khan (File photo)

Jodhpur, Jan 18: Bollywood star Salman Khan was acquitted in illegal arms case on Wednesday. A Jodhpur court found evidence against him inconsequential. This was the third case he is acquitted of in the alleged poaching in 1998.

Salman Khan’s arrival

Salman Khan arrived in Jodhpur on Tuesday along with his sister Alvira and bodyguard Shera. According to TV reports, he had booked his hotel for three days for any contingency. Alvira reached the court early. The star followed later.

What happened in court

Salman Khan, Alvira and his bodyguard had a tense look on their faces when the star entered the court.

The Judge asked Salman: “What is your name?”
Salman: “Salman Khan”.

After this, the judge read the last paragraph of the order: “You have been acquitted under Arms Act.”

After the verdict, Salman Khan smiled and shook hands with his sister and bodyguard who also looked relieved.

Why was he acquitted

Benefit of doubt

The prosecution lawyer said Salman got the benefit of doubt.

Lack of evidence

Salman’s lawyer said the evidence produced by the prosecution were very weak.

‘Acquittal on technical grounds’

Noted lawyer Ujjwal Nikam said that the court must have acquitted Salman Khan on technical ground.

“The offshoot was that he was having the weapon, but without licence. Basically, he was holding the licence, but it was expired. I think he has been acquitted technically,” he told ANI.

“It is for the concerned government to decide to appeal to the preferred or not, what evidence is to be marshaled in the court and what was the defence? Those facts have to be taken into consideration by the court and the government,” he added.

‘Police and prosecution responsible’

“That is what the courts have said or the evidence was not put properly before the court. Who should be held responsible for this? Why is justice being defeated? Just because the police and the prosecution have not put up a water-tight case. It is not Salman Khan’s victory but the defeat of police and prosecution. It is the defeat of the judicial system,” Senior Advocate Abha Singh said.

The lawyer of Vishnoi Samaj– a litigant in the case– said they will decide on the future course of action after they receive the copy of the order. The leaders of the Vishnoi community has demanded from the state government to take note of its lapses in the case and file an appeal in high court.

Salman- a controversial figure 

Salman Khan has been facing many cases for allegedly poaching two chinkaras and two blackbucks during the shooting of his film ‘Hum Saath Saath Hain’ in 1998. He had spent a week in Jodhpur jail in 2007. The actor had been acquitted in two cases pertaining to the killing of Chinkara deer by Rajasthan high court. The case of the alleged poaching of two blackbucks is still on.

Salman Khan has been a controversial figure. He had been convicted in a hit-and-run case and had been sentenced to five years by the Bombay High Court. The court had suspended his sentence.

The actor is very popular and has legions of fans across the nation. Thousands of Jodhpur residents converged outside the court to get a glimpse of the actor. Some supporters outside the court said they would distribute sweets to celebrate the star’s acquittal.

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