Salman Khan guilty in black buck case: How bhai's fans reacted on Twitter
In September, 1998, during the shoot of Hum Saath Saath Hain, actors Salman Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, and Sonali Bendre, went on a hunting trip to Bhagoda ki Dhani in the Kankani village of Rajasthan.
While there, the foursome allegedly shot down two blackbucks. The Bishnoi villagers registered a complaint against the actors a month later and subsequently Salman Khan was arrested in connection with “poaching of endangered animals”. While the actor received a quick bail, the case has dragged on for years and years.
Two decades later, on April 5, 2018, a Jodhpur court has convicted Khan. And while Khan has been convicted under Section 51 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, which carries maximum punishment of six years and minimum one-year jail term, the others - Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Sonali Bendre and Neelam Kothari - have been acquitted. The quantum of sentence is yet to be announced, but the sentence in itself is one that has been cheered. Salman Khan, who has previously managed to squirm of of tight legal situations, being held accountable for a crime is not a sight one sees every day.
Needless to say, people on social media erupted with jokes about the “Bhai” of Bollywood.
Judge: Why did you come to Jodhpur in 1998.Salman Khan: To shoot...Judge: You have confessed. GUILTY.Salman Khan: ... Hum Saath Saath Hain.Judge: You have confessed again. ALL OF YOU ARE GUILTY.#BlackBuckPoachingCase
— Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats) April 5, 2018
Salman Khan found guilty in the #BlackBuckPoachingCase.Finally, some justice for that blackbuck's great-great-grandchildren.
— Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats) April 5, 2018
Today Salman Khan will be like "Buck Sala"
— Rahul Raj (@bhak_sala) April 5, 2018
#BlackBuckPoachingCase #SalmanKhan #SalmanVerdict Judge - Where Is The Dead Body Of That BlackBuck ? Salman Khan - pic.twitter.com/ZZEqxsuFdK
— lakhan (@lakhan809470) April 5, 2018
Only Salman Khan convicted in #BlackBuckPoachingCase, while others have been acquitted by the Jodhpur court. WEREN'T THEY SUPPOSED TO BE SAATH SAATH?! pic.twitter.com/0YNo0I4zOG
— Aaqib Raza Khan (@aaqibrk) April 5, 2018
Black Bucks born around time of the shooting would be dead of natural causes by now ????????Years since Black Buck incident: 19Life expectancy of Black Buck in years: 10-15
— Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) April 4, 2018
टाइगर दोषी है।
— Kamlesh Singh | Bana de Lohagarh (@kamleshksingh) April 5, 2018
Though, not everyone was sure if this is as big a deal as it was being made to look like.
Salman khan will get 3 yrs and the sentence will be immediately suspended till appeal to a higher court, and then Harish Salve will swoop in.
— Gabbbar (@GabbbarSingh) April 5, 2018
For those saying justice delivered in salman khan case. Remember the case pertains to 1998, it has already been 20 years. A stay and bail still a probability from high court. In most likelihood he wont be in jail for long. I would be happy to be proved wrong.
— kamaljit sandhu (@kamaljitsandhu) April 5, 2018
Took 20 long years for our Great Judiciary to convict Salman Khan, no guesses for how quick he'll be rescued. Black Buck Marr Gaya aur Tiger Zinda Hai.
— गीतिका (@ggiittiikkaa) April 5, 2018
At the pace at which Indian legal system functions, even humans might be extinct by the time the final judgment in Salman Khan black buck case comes. I can visualize a robot SC judge delivering the verdict
— Samrat X (@MrSamratX) April 5, 2018
And there are also those who stand staunchly by the actor’s innocence.
Salman Khan's enemy is himself.. His good heart/his helping nature has often put him in trouble. He took someone else blame on his head.. Everyone knows who is the real culprit!
— ℋazra ???? (@h_hazra) April 5, 2018
Politicians are acquitting themselves of hate crimes, Judge Loya's murder isn't being investigated properly,rabble rousing zealots spread hatred in the name of religion,caste n no one says anything...but u have to Hound Salman Khan coz he's a world famous celebrity!#hypocrisy
— Faridoon Shahryar (@iFaridoon) April 5, 2018
Political Journalists who'd wait way past midnight for a 10 minute byte with Salman Khan have found their moment of glory by demonising a genuinely good man.Obviously u can't talk about real issues facing the country.Take a soft Target and get ur TRPs flying...
— Faridoon Shahryar (@iFaridoon) April 5, 2018
We Did in PastWe are doing NowWe will do it in FutureSupport and Stand for Salman Khan..He will come out more Stronger...
— Lafanga (@chupbesaale) April 5, 2018
Of course, while it is good to know that the legal system delivers even when it is fighting against the powerful, the span of court case is a sad reminder of how slow justice can be, and begs the question: does it spell jutice at all if it takes 20 years?
So much talk on channels about how Salman Khan's image has changed over the years. His charity, loyalty and blah blah. How does it matter to the blackbuck? ????
— Dhanya Rajendran (@dhanyarajendran) April 5, 2018
Lifespan of blackbuck: 10 to 15 years.Lifespan of court case when one kills a blackbuck: 20 years.
— Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats) April 5, 2018
Man who poached Black bucks with Salman Khan... #Demonetization #BlackBuckPoachingCase pic.twitter.com/RMN1PBOCmN
— The-Lying-Lama (@KyaUkhaadLega) April 5, 2018
When you are dead for 20 years but someone tells you that Salman khan convicted in #BlackBuckPoachingCase pic.twitter.com/exG49afYJ7
— Jon Barfeela (@jonbarfeela) April 5, 2018
Perhaps the most relevant reaction comes from Salman Khan himself, in the form of a eight-year-old tweet:
Hahahahahahaha hehehehehehe sorry
— Salman Khan (@BeingSalmanKhan) September 27, 2010