Salman Khan Blackbuck Poaching Case Faces Another Setback as Judge Recuses
The long-running blackbuck poaching case involving Bollywood actor Salman Khan encountered another significant delay on Monday. Justice Baljinder Singh Sandhu of the Rajasthan High Court unexpectedly recused himself from hearing the matter, leading to the case being redirected to another bench for further proceedings. This development adds to the protracted legal saga that has spanned over two decades.
Case Background and Key Details
The case before the high court involves a consolidated hearing of two crucial petitions. First, Salman Khan's appeal against his conviction and five-year prison sentence handed down by a trial court on April 5, 2018. Second, the state government's 'leave to appeal' petition challenging the acquittal of the co-accused in the case.
The co-accused include prominent Bollywood figures:
- Saif Ali Khan
- Sonali Bendre
- Tabu
- Neelam
- Local resident Dushyant Singh
Origins of the Legal Battle
The case originates from allegations that during the filming of the movie 'Hum Saath Saath Hain' in 1998, Salman Khan hunted two blackbucks at Kankani village in Jodhpur district. Blackbucks are protected under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, making their hunting a serious offense.
Following the trial court's 2018 verdict, Salman Khan challenged his sentence in the sessions court, while the state government approached the high court seeking permission to appeal the acquittals of the other accused.
Recent Legal Developments
In a significant procedural move, Salman Khan's legal team filed a transfer petition in the high court requesting that his appeal be moved from the sessions court and heard together with the state's petition. The defense argued that both matters arise from the same case and should be consolidated for judicial efficiency.
Prosecution counsel Mahipal Bishnoi confirmed that the high court, in July 2025, allowed this transfer request. The court moved Khan's petition to the high court and ordered that it be clubbed with the state's appeal for a joint hearing.
The recusal of Justice Sandhu represents yet another twist in this complex legal narrative. The case now awaits assignment to a new bench, prolonging the resolution of one of Bollywood's most high-profile wildlife conservation cases.
