Blackbuck Poaching Case: A Salman Khan case timeline

A Jodhpur court on Thursday convicted Salman Khan in the 1998 blackbuck killing case. His 'Hum Saath Saath Hain' co-stars, Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Sonali Bendre, Neelam were, however, acquitted in the same case. A fifth person, Dushyant Singh, a local travel agent from the area, has also been acquitted. DH brings you a brief timeline of the case.

April 05, 2018: Trial court convicts Salman Khan. Court acquits Saif, Neelam, Sonali, Tabu and a local Dushyant.

Jan 18, 2017: The court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Jodhpur gives Salman Khan benefit of the doubt  and acquits him in Arms Act case.

January 5, 2017: Salman Khan's lawyers conclude arguments in the case against him under Arms Act. The prosecution then started a reply to the arguments.

December 9, 2016: The final arguments had started.

November 11, 2016: The Supreme Court agrees to fast-track a plea filed by the Rajasthan government, rules to expedite hearing in the two cases of blackbuck and chinkara poaching against Khan. Khan gets SC notice on Rajasthan's appeal over his acquittal in the Chinkara poaching case.

October 19, 2016: Rajasthan government again appeals to the Supreme Court challenging the High Court's decision of acquitting actor Salman Khan in two cases of chinkara poaching.

July 25, 2016: The Rajasthan High Court acquits Bollywood actor Salman Khan in the Jodhpur blackbuck and chinkara poaching cases of 1998. The High Court said that there was no evidence to prove that the animals who were found dead were shot by the actor's licensed gun.

July 9, 2014: The Supreme Court issues a notice to the actor on the Rajasthan government's plea challenging an earlier Rajasthan High Court order that had suspended his conviction.

July 24, 2012: A bench of the Rajasthan High Court finalises charges against all accused in the blackbuck poaching case and paves the way for a trial.

August 31, 2007: The Rajasthan High Court sentences the actor to five years in prison, which was suspended a week later on his appeal. Salman Khan spent the week in the Jodhpur Central Jail. Later, the High Court dropped charges under the Arms Act against him.

April 10, 2006: Salman Khan convicted in the hunting case by one of the trial courts under the Wildlife Protection Act. The actor is fined Rs 25,000, and, also sentenced to 5 years of imprisonment.

October 17, 1998: Salman was released on bail.

October 12, 1998: Actor was arrested in the connection with the poaching of endangered animals.

15 October 1998: Forest department registers case against Salman Khan under 3/25 and 3/27 sections of the Arms Act. They claimed that he used arms with an expired license for alleged poaching on the night of  October 1-2, 1998.

October 2, 1998: The Bishnoi villagers register a complaint against Salman Khan and his 'Hum Saath Saath Hain' co-actors with regard to the killings.

September 1998: During the shoot of film 'Hum Saath Saath Hain', Salman Khan along with Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, and Sonali Bendre, allegedly hunted down two blackbucks in the Kankani village of Rajasthan.