SC sets aside order staying Salman Khan’s conviction in black buck poaching case

New Delhi: Bollywood actor Salman Khan’s fate seem to be on a roller coaster ride, in a setback for the actor, the Supreme Court has set aside Rajasthan High Court order keeping in suspension conviction of the actor in black buck case. Reports suggest that Apex Court has asked High Court to consider afresh Salman’s plea on the issue of staying the conviction.An apex court bench headed by Justice S.J. Mukhopadhyay remanded the matter back to the high court for fresh consideration. Pronouncing the verdict, Justice Mukhopadhyay said the filmstar could tell the court that he would suffer irreversible damage if his conviction is not stayed and he is eventually acquitted.

The court said that the Rajasthan government at the same time could argue that no irreversible damage which cannot be undone would be caused if his conviction is not stayed.The 49-year-old actor was awarded a five-year jail term by the trial court, reportedly. Bollywood actor had earlier submitted that he would have faced hardship if his conviction would not have been stayed by the high court as it adversely affected his right to travel abroad.

A Bench comprising Justices SJ Mukhopadhyay and AK Goel had on November 5 last year reserved is judgement after raising question on the Rajasthan High Court decision staying the mega star’s conviction without going into the merits of the case and just to pave the way for him to get the visa to travel to the United Kingdom for professional purposes.

Besides Salman, actors Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Tabu and Neelam were also accused of poaching near Jodhpur during the shooting of the film ‘Hum Saath Saath Hain’.