Jodhpur: Bollywood Superstar Salman Khan was granted bail on Saturday on a personal bond of Rs100,000 (about Dh5,660 or $1,541) by District and Sessions Court Judge Ravindra Kumar Joshi.
Two days earlier, on Thursday, he was found guilty of killing two blackbucks in Jodhpur during the shooting of his movie in 1998.
Arguments were already over in the morning but Judge Joshi reserved the order for post lunch. He has to produce personal bond worth Rs50,000 (Dh2,830 or $770.50) plus two other bonds worth Rs25,000 each.
Salman was expected to be released by evening after all legal formalities are completed.
Upon learning about the verdict, Salman's fans erupted in celebration outside the court. His friends and well-wishers from film industry, too, expressed their happiness over the decision.
On Friday, the hearing on Bollywood actor Salman Khan's application for bail and suspension of sentence in the 1998 blackbuck poaching case has been completed. The bail was granted after lunch on Saturday, Indian media reported.
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While the case was heard by Judge Joshi, the trial took a dramatic legal turn. On Friday, Joshi was transferred by the Rajasthan High Court as a part of routine judicial exercise that has seen 87 other judges being shuffled around.
Khan was accompanied by sisters Alvira and Arpita, and long-time bodyguard Shera, in court, where security was beefed up by the state police.
Security was also tight at the Jodhpur Central jail.
The suspense on superstar's bail plea after the transfer of Joshi came to an end, however, when the judge resumed the hearing in the case on Saturday morning.
Joshi had reserved his judgement on Salman's plea on Friday, asking for additional documents.
Later the same night, he was among the 87 judicial officers who were transfered in what was described as a routime administrative measure.
Though Joshi was tansfered to Sirohi in the same capacity, informed sources said he had been asked to continue with the bail hearing till its conclusion.
According to the Rajasthan High Court website, Judge Joshi's name is at 14th in the transfer list, which names Chandra Shekhar Sharma as the new District and Session Court Judge in Jodhpur on his transfer from Sirohi.
Two more nights in jail for Salman?
If Salman fails to get bail on Saturday then he will have to spend two more nights in jail and will then have to move the Rajasthan High Court on Monday for bail.
Salman's lawyer Mahesh Bora is representing him in court.
