Blackbuck case: Salman Khan walks out of jail after getting bail

Our Correspondent

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Jodhpur, April 7

After spending two nights in Jodhpur Central Jail, Bollywood star Salman Khan on Saturday evening walked out of prison after the District and Sessions Judge Ravindra K Joshi granted him bail in the 1998 blackbuck poaching case. 

Jail authorities completed the formalities after receiving the release order within 30 minutes at 5.30 pm and released the 52-year-old convict by adopting the best security and quick measures.

Salman carcade arrived at the airport where he boarded a chartered plane to Mumbai. His sisters Arpita and Alvira, and two bodyguards, who were present in the court since April 5, accompanied him.

Salman was wearing a round-neck black T-shirt, sporting a cap and black goggles as he left for the airport under unprecedented security.

As the bail news broke out, thousands of his fans and burqa-clad Muslim women were seen celebrating outside the court and near the jail campus. They also burst fire crackers. People from all walks of lives have come from outside, especially Maharashtra, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and other parts of Rajasthan.

District and Sessions Court Judge Ravindra Kumar Joshi heard the arguments of prosecution and defence which lasted over two hours from 10 am to 12 noon. The judge reserved the order to be pronounced after lunch, at 2 pm, but he again took one hour to grant bail to Salman Khan on a bond of Rs 50,000 and two sureties of Rs 25,000 each. 

The sessions court had on Friday deferred its trial on Bollywood superstar's bail plea for Saturday and called for the file of the case from the CJM court.

Salman would have to seek court's permission if he has to go abroad, Public Prosecutor Pokar Ram Vishnoi told The Tribune, adding the final arguments on appeal of suspension of conviction will be dealt now on the next date of May 7. Vishnoi urged the court that the Salman should not be given bail as he had a number of legal cases pertaining to Chinkara and now blackbucks' killing, and there were enough evidences like FSL report and eyewitness' account against him. 

Defence lawyer Hastimal Saraswat argued that the trial court relied on just one eyewitness, whose claims are unreliable. The trial court relied on same set of corroborative evidences, which had been rejected by the high court, Saraswat, who prepared a 51-page petition, told The Tribune.

Since Salman has been out on bail for nearly 20 years but had not misused bail conditions, he should be granted bail, Saraswat accompanied with Mahesh Bora, claimed.

The actor was on Thursday convicted by Chief Judicial Magistrate Devkumar Khatri, and sentenced to five years in prison under Section 9/51 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 for killing two blackbucks during the shooting of 'Hum Saath Saath Hain' at Kankani village of Jodhpur district. Five others: Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Sonali Bendre, Neelam (all actors) and Dushyant Singh (Gypsy driver) were acquitted on benefit of doubt.