The Rajasthan High Court on Monday postponed a crucial hearing in the 1998 blackbuck poaching case after the assigned judge recused himself. The matter, now with the Chief Justice, awaits reassignment, leaving the high-stakes appeal in limbo.
At the heart is the government’s ‘leave to appeal’ against the acquittal of Bollywood actors Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Neelam, Sonali Bendre, and Dushyant Singh. The Jodhpur trial court in April 2018 convicted only Salman Khan, sentencing him to five years and a hefty fine for the alleged hunt during ‘Hum Saath Saath Hain’ filming.
Flashback to 1998: Near Kankani village, film unit members faced charges of illegally shooting blackbucks, culturally revered antelopes protected by the Wildlife Protection Act. Salman appealed his guilty verdict successfully for bail, but the state’s push to implicate others persisted.
The judge’s recusal stemmed from earlier engagements with case-related topics, prompting a self-disqualification to uphold fairness. This procedural step, while standard, amplifies suspense in a saga marked by trials, appeals, and celebrity trials-by-media.
With Rajasthan’s wildlife legacy at stake, this development highlights enforcement challenges against influential figures. Legal analysts speculate on potential outcomes: reversal of acquittals or upheld clearances, each carrying implications for conservation jurisprudence.
As parties brace for the next phase, the blackbuck case endures as a benchmark for celebrity accountability and judicial integrity in India.