Countdown begins: Salman Khan’s fate in blackbuck case to be decided soon

The Rajasthan High Court will hear Salman Khan’s plea against his five-year jail sentence in the blackbuck poaching case the coming month.

Published: Wednesday,Jul 30, 2025 12:07 PM GMT-06:00

Divya Shah

In a significant update that has reignited public attention on one of Bollywood’s longest-running legal sagas, the Rajasthan High Court is set to hear Salman Khan’s plea against his five-year jail sentence in the blackbuck poaching case on September 22, 2025. Justice Manoj Kumar Garg will preside over the hearing, which also includes the Rajasthan government’s appeal challenging the acquittal of other high-profile co-accused, Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Sonali Bendre, and Neelam.

The case, dating back to 1998, has followed Salman Khan like a shadow for over two decades. The controversy began during the filming of Hum Saath Saath Hain near Bawad in Mathania, close to Jodhpur, when Khan was accused of illegally hunting two endangered blackbucks, an act considered not just a legal offense, but a spiritual violation by the Bishnoi community, who filed the initial complaint. The Bishnois worship the blackbuck as a sacred symbol and believe it to be a reincarnation of their spiritual leader, Bhagwan Jambeshwar (Jambaji).

The case went through a series of legal turns. While Khan was arrested in 1998, he was granted bail and later acquitted in July 2016 by the Rajasthan High Court due to “lack of evidence.” However, the state government contested this decision, appealing to the Supreme Court. Adding another layer to the saga, Salman Khan’s legal team filed a petition to transfer his sentence appeal from the district court to the High Court, a request that led to the current clubbed hearing.

Notably, in 2023, Salman Khan publicly addressed the issue for the first time during his appearance on Aap Ki Adalat, stating, “Our judiciary is very capable... Whatever the decision will be, we will accept it. Bring it on.”

As the hearing date nears, the case continues to grip Bollywood watchers and legal observers alike. With a verdict pending for years, September 22 could be a defining moment in Salman Khan’s legal journey, one that’s stretched across headlines, courtrooms, and decades.