JODHPUR: Just before the bail hearing for actor Salman Khan began onFriday, his lawyer has claimed that he has been getting threat messagesasking him to drop the case. “Yesterday I got threatening SMSes andinternet calls warning me not to appear for Salman Khan in bail hearingtoday,” Salman’s lawyer Mahesh Bora said on Friday.
He claimed in the messages that he received, it was written that if he doesnot drop the case, he will be shot at. “Salman Khan ka case ko chodhdijiye, warna goli maarenge (Drop the case or we will shoot you),” Salman’slawyer claimed outside the Jodhpur Sessions court.
The bail order for Salman Khan has been reserved till Saturday and theactor have to spend another night in the Jodhpur Central jail. Matterrelated to Salman’s bail was listed at number 24th in the Jodhpur court.Salman’s counsels argued in court on the ground that the witness in thecase is not reliable. The actor was brought to court from the JodhpurCentral jail just before the hearing began. Along with Salman, his sistersAlvira and Arpita and brother Arbaaz and Sohail were also present for thehearing.
A Jodhpur court had on Thursday found Salman guilty under Section 9/51 ofthe Wildlife (Protection) Act while acquitted all other accused actors -Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Neelam and Sonali Bendre in the case. The Bollywoodsuperstar was sentenced to five years in jail and fined Rs 10,000.
Salman was visibly emotional after the verdict was announced and was seenhugging his two sisters. Scenes outside the Jodhpur court though showedmixed emotions with fans reiterating their support for him while close to ahundred members of Bishnoi community – who rever blackbucks – celebrated.
Salman and the other Bollywood stars had been accused of poaching twoblackbucks – an endangered animal – in Bhagoda ki Dhani in Kankani villagenear Jodhpur on October 2, 1998, during the shooting of the movie ‘HumSaath Saath Hain’. Public Prosecutor Bhawani Singh Bhati had said that allof them were in a Gypsy car that night, with Salman in the driving seat. Healso said that when Salman spotted a herd of black bucks, he shot at andkilled two of them.