04-05-2018, 10:51 AM
Bollywood star Salman Khan is facing six years in jail after being found guilty of killing rare antelopes 20 years ago
The 52-year-old, who is one of the Indian movie industry's most bankable stars, was convicted of shooting two rare blackbuck antelopes in a western India wildlife preserve in 1998.
He was found guilty by a court in the western city of Jodhpur, Rajasthan state, where hundreds of police officers had been called in to keep crowds of crazed fans back.
![[Image: 4AD7113000000578-5580785-Heading_to_jail...977815.jpg]](http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/04/05/08/4AD7113000000578-5580785-Heading_to_jail_Bollywood_actor_Salman_Khan_one_of_India_s_most_-a-9_1522913977815.jpg)
![[Image: 4AD710C600000578-5580785-image-m-8_1522913968990.jpg]](http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/04/05/08/4AD710C600000578-5580785-image-m-8_1522913968990.jpg)
Heading to jail: Bollywood actor Salman Khan, one of India's most bankable film stars, has been found guilty of poaching rare antelopes, known as black bucks, in 1998
The body-building actor, best known for his macho roles, himself claims he did not shoot the blackbucks - an endangered species protected under the Indian Wildlife Act.
Khan has instead accused the state's forest department of framing him over the blackbuck case.
Hundreds of police were deployed outside the courtroom in Jodhpur to keep back fans who remain for the star's sentencing later on Thursday.
Four other Bollywood stars - Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Tabu and Neelam Kothari - were also accused of partaking in the hunting trip but were acquitted for lack of evidence.
![[Image: wire-2643556-1522911445-169_634x436.jpg]](http://i.dailymail.co.uk/1/2018/04/05/07/wire-2643556-1522911445-169_634x436.jpg)
Claiming innocence: The film star has accused the state's forest department of framing him
'Salman Khan has been convicted under the wildlife protection act and the rest of the stars have been acquitted,' prosecutor Mahipal Bishnoi told reporters.
![[Image: 4AD6E60900000578-5580785-image-a-5_1522913951000.jpg]](http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/04/05/08/4AD6E60900000578-5580785-image-a-5_1522913951000.jpg)
Rare: Khan poached Blackbuck antelopes
No stranger to controversy, Khan was cleared in 2015 of killing a homeless man in a hit-and-run accident in 2002.
That decision is now being challenged in the Supreme Court.
Indian courts can often take years - and sometimes decades - to pronounce verdicts.
But the off-screen drama has done little to dampen his appeal, with Khan one of Bollywood's biggest draws.
According to Forbes, he made $37 million in yearly earnings to finish second behind Shah Rukh Khan in 2017 Bollywood rankings.
Both the Khans are among the top 10 most highly paid actors in the world.
The Bollywood heartthrob's latest blockbuster 'Tiger Zinda Hai' (Tiger is alive) collected some $85 million worldwide.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...lopes.html
- Salman Khan found guilty of killing rare blackbuck antelopes in 1998
- He may be sent to jail for up to six years during sentencing later Thursday
- Bollywood star has accused the state's forest department of framing him
The 52-year-old, who is one of the Indian movie industry's most bankable stars, was convicted of shooting two rare blackbuck antelopes in a western India wildlife preserve in 1998.
He was found guilty by a court in the western city of Jodhpur, Rajasthan state, where hundreds of police officers had been called in to keep crowds of crazed fans back.
Heading to jail: Bollywood actor Salman Khan, one of India's most bankable film stars, has been found guilty of poaching rare antelopes, known as black bucks, in 1998
The body-building actor, best known for his macho roles, himself claims he did not shoot the blackbucks - an endangered species protected under the Indian Wildlife Act.
Khan has instead accused the state's forest department of framing him over the blackbuck case.
Hundreds of police were deployed outside the courtroom in Jodhpur to keep back fans who remain for the star's sentencing later on Thursday.
Four other Bollywood stars - Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Tabu and Neelam Kothari - were also accused of partaking in the hunting trip but were acquitted for lack of evidence.
Claiming innocence: The film star has accused the state's forest department of framing him
'Salman Khan has been convicted under the wildlife protection act and the rest of the stars have been acquitted,' prosecutor Mahipal Bishnoi told reporters.
Rare: Khan poached Blackbuck antelopes
No stranger to controversy, Khan was cleared in 2015 of killing a homeless man in a hit-and-run accident in 2002.
That decision is now being challenged in the Supreme Court.
Indian courts can often take years - and sometimes decades - to pronounce verdicts.
But the off-screen drama has done little to dampen his appeal, with Khan one of Bollywood's biggest draws.
According to Forbes, he made $37 million in yearly earnings to finish second behind Shah Rukh Khan in 2017 Bollywood rankings.
Both the Khans are among the top 10 most highly paid actors in the world.
The Bollywood heartthrob's latest blockbuster 'Tiger Zinda Hai' (Tiger is alive) collected some $85 million worldwide.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-...lopes.html