Salman Khan jailed after Bollywood megastar found guilty of killing two endangered antelope

 

Actor is convicted under the Wildlife Protection Act and receives 10,000 rupee fine

Bollywood star Salman Khan has been jailed for five years years in prison after being convicted in a 20-year-old poaching case.

The actor was convicted of shooting two rare blackbuck deer in a wildlife preserve in 1998.

He killed the antelope, which are protected animals under India’s Wildlife Protection Act, in Mathania village near Jodhpur.

The incident took place during the shooting of film “Hum Saath Saath Hain” and four of his co-stars — Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Tabu and Neelam — were also tried in the case.

They were all acquitted after it was found they were in the jeep that Khan was believed to be driving.

It is thought he killed the blackbucks before they all fled the scene, leaving the two animals behind, after being spotted and chased.

Khan, who also received a 10,000 rupee (£109) fine, was in court for the ruling and can appeal the conviction in a higher court.

He had previously been sentenced to jail terms of one and five years in related poaching cases.

In 2006 Khan was convicted for killing the blackbucks and sentenced to five years in jail.

After spending one week in prison, the sentence was suspended by the Rajasthan High Court.