Bollywood Star Salman Khan Gets Five Years in Jail For Poaching
An Indian court has sentenced Bollywood superstar Salman Khan to five years in jail for poaching rare antelope back in 1998.
The court in Jodhpur has also fined him 10,000 rupees ($154; £109) for the crime and has been taken to jail.
Khan had killed the two blackbucks, a protected species, in the western state of Rajasthan during the shooting of a film.
Four other actors; Sonali Bendre, Saif Ali Khan, Neelam and Tabu, who had starred with him in the movie were also charged with the offence but have been acquitted.
The public prosecutor said that they asked for the maximum punishment (of six years). However, Salman’s lawyer had pleaded for minimum sentence.
Khan, 52, can appeal against the verdict in a higher court. Correspondents say he will have to spend at least a few days in prison.
The case had been in trial for the past 19 years and Salman could have faced six years in prison under Section 51 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act.
The blackbuck is an endangered species and is protected under the Indian Wildlife Act.