Jodhpur: Actor Salman Khan's controversial blackbuck poaching case does not seem to be getting a closure any time soon. Earlier this year, the actor had appealed against the verdict of Rajasthan court that sentenced him for 5 years of imprisonment for killing the endangered animal. Now, the hearing of this appeal will take place today in Jodhpur. 

The incident occurred in 1998 during the shoot of Hum Saath Saath Hain when Khan accompanied by Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Sonali Bendre and Neelam allegedly hunted down two blackbucks in the Kankani village of Rajasthan. The villagers registered a complaint against the group since blackbucks are endangered animals In India and hunting them is prohibited under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972. 

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In the last hearing of the long-drawn case, Saif, Neelam, Tabu and Sonali were acquitted but Salman was convicted and sentenced for 5 years of imprisonment. He was charged under the sections of under Section 51 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act and others under Section 51 read with Section 149 (unlawful assembly) of the Indian Penal Code.

Khan also spent a night in jail and was later released on bail. His lawyer Anand Desai said in a statement, "ln the present case the Hon'ble Court has acquitted all the 5 co-accused which would imply that Salman was out hunting alone in the middle of the night in a remote area outside Jodhpur. We have preferred an appeal to the Hon'ble Sessions Court and applied for an urgent hearing today ."

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Meanwhile, on the work front, Salman Khan will be next seen in Bharat alongside Katrina Kaif. The movie is the official remake of the Korean movie, An Ode To My Father. Kaif and Khan are said to sport five different looks in the movie to showcase their journey from 18 to 60 years of age.