Salman spends night on Jodhpur jail floor; bail verdict on Saturday
06 Apr 2018
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Bollywood star Salman Khan will have to spend at least one more night in Jodhpur Central Jail as the the Jodhpur district court has reserved its order on his bail plea for Saturday.
The actor was on Thursday held guilty of killing two blackbucks during the shooting of the movie Hum Saath Saath Hain in 1998. He was awarded a five-year sentence and fined Rs10,000 (See: Salman Khan gets 5 years in 1998 blackbuck poaching case).
His co-stars Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre and Tabu were acquitted of all charges and left soon after the judge delivered the verdict.
The hearing of the bail plea has begun and will continue on Saturday, when Salman's lawyers will seek to substantiate their claims that the eyewitnesses weren't reliable.
Salman Khan is placed in the VIP barracks in ward number 2 of the jail. The superstar’s barracks is adjacent to godman Asaram Bapu, jailed in a rape case.
Reports say the actor spent Thursday night sleeping on the floor with four blankets. Food prepared at Taj Hotel was sought to be given to him but his bodyguard Shera was not permitted to bring it into the jail.
Instead, the Tiger Zinda Hai star was served simple chana dal, cabbage and roti, which he did not eat.
Salman's lawyers are currently arguing for bail. Thereafter the prosecution lawyers will argue why he should remain behind bars.
While sentencing Salman to five years in jail, chief judicial magistrate Dev Kumar Khatri pointed out the fan following of the superstar, saying, "The accused is a popular actor whose deeds are followed by people. Despite this, the accused hunted two blackbucks."
While his fans are upset over the verdict, animal rights groups welcomed the sentencing, asserting that the order proved that no one is above the law. "The verdict shows, whether you are Salman Khan or an ordinary citizen, the facts will be heard by a court and the law will prevail," PETA India spokesperson Sachin Bangera said.
Some activists said that the actor should have been given the maximum punishment of six years under the Wildlife Act.
Salman’s sisters Alvira and Arpita and brother Arbaaz and Sohail are in Jodhpur to support him. Meanwhile, in Mumbai, a host of industry friends dropped at the actor's residence to meet his family at Galaxy Apartments in suburban Bandra, where a large number of fans had also gathered. Race 3 producer Ramesh Taurani, Sonakshi Sinha along with her parents Shatrughan and Poonam Sinha, Sneha Ullal and Daisy Shah were seen visiting his residence.
Just before the hearing, Salman's counsel claimed that he received threatening messages. "Yesterday I got threatening SMSes and internet calls warning me not to appear for Salman Khan in bail hearing today," Salman's lawyer Mahesh Bora said.
