Salman Khan Blackbuck Poaching Case Hits Another Legal Snag as Judge Recuses
The long-running blackbuck poaching case involving Bollywood actor Salman Khan encountered yet another procedural delay on Monday. Justice Baljinder Singh Sandhu of the Rajasthan High Court unexpectedly recused himself from hearing the matter, leading to the case being reassigned to a different bench for future proceedings.
Case Background and Key Details
The high court is currently handling a consolidated hearing that combines two critical legal petitions. First, Salman Khan's appeal against his conviction in the case. Second, the Rajasthan state government's 'leave to appeal' petition, which challenges the acquittal of the other co-accused individuals.
The co-accused in this high-profile case include fellow Bollywood actors Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Tabu, and Neelam, as well as local resident Dushyant Singh. The legal saga originates from allegations that during the filming of the movie 'Hum Saath Saath Hain' in 1998, Salman Khan hunted two blackbucks in Kankani village, located in Jodhpur district.
Legal Timeline and Recent Developments
On April 5, 2018, a trial court found Salman Khan guilty and sentenced him to five years of imprisonment. However, the same court acquitted all the other accused individuals in the case. Following this verdict, Khan filed an appeal against his sentence in the sessions court.
Simultaneously, the state government approached the Rajasthan High Court, seeking permission to appeal the acquittals of the co-accused. In response, Khan's legal team filed a transfer petition in the high court. They requested that his appeal be moved from the sessions court and heard jointly with the state's petition, arguing that both matters stem from the same original case.
Prosecution counsel Mahipal Bishnoi confirmed that in July 2025, the high court granted this transfer request. The court moved Khan's petition to the high court and ordered it to be clubbed with the state's appeal for a combined hearing. This consolidation was intended to streamline the legal process and address all related issues in a unified manner.
Impact of the Latest Delay
The recusal of Justice Baljinder Singh Sandhu has introduced a new layer of complexity and postponement to this already protracted legal battle. Such judicial recusals, while not uncommon, often lead to significant delays as cases must be reassigned and new judges familiarize themselves with the extensive case history.
This development means that the joint hearing of both appeals will now have to wait until a new bench is appointed and schedules are adjusted. Legal experts note that this could push back the resolution of a case that has been pending for over two decades, keeping the actors and the public in a state of prolonged legal suspense.
The blackbuck poaching case remains one of the most closely watched legal proceedings in India, intertwining celebrity culture with wildlife conservation laws. As the case moves to another bench, all parties involved await further directions from the Rajasthan High Court on the next steps in this enduring judicial process.
