The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued notice to Bollywood film star Salman Khan of a plea by the Rajasthan government challenging the stay on his conviction in a blackbuck hunting case.
The Rajasthan government is challenging the November 12, 2013, decision of the high court to delay the actor’s conviction.
Khan’s sentence was suspended by the high court in August 31, 2007. The order of conviction was quashed in November last year to allow Khan to go abroad for work.
The Rajasthan government has proceeded against Khan, and fellow Bollywood actors Saif Ali Khan, Neelam, Tabu and Sonali Bendre on charges of hunting protected blackbuck while they were in the state filming.
Khan was convicted to five years in jail in 2006 under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.
Justice Sudhansu Jyoti Mukhopadhaya and Justice S.A. Bobde of the apex court issued the notice of the Rajasthan government which said the suspension of Khan’s conviction by the high court was not sustainable as it failed to take into account the serious allegations of illegal hunting of blackbuck and the findings recorded by the trial court to that effect.
The plea by the state government said the high court did not take into account Khan’s alleged involvement in two more cases.
The state government described the high court’s reasons for placing the conviction under suspension as “vague”, holding that the conduct of the film star was up to the mark and he had to travel abroad in connection with his profession.
It said the high court appeared to be impressed that Khan was a famous Bollywood star.
The petition said the high court failed to appreciate that everyone was equal before the law and that it did not distinguish between a celebrity and a commoner.
Assailing the high court order as a “complete non-application of mind”, the Rajasthan government in its petition said it modified its original order by exempting Khan from getting the court’s permission for going abroad and now putting the conviction on hold.
Khan was convicted in the blackbuck hunting case by a trial on April 10, 2006, under the Wildlife (Protection) Act and was given a five-year jail term along with a fine of Rs25,000 (Dh1,535).
The sessions judge on August 24, 2007, upheld the conviction and sentencing of Salman Khan and dismissed his appeal.
