Salman Khan Bail Hearing Today: Get latest updates

New Delhi : Bollywood superstar Salman Khan has spent his first night at Jodhpur Central Jail as Qaidi (prisoner) No. 106, after a court found him guilty of killing two endangered blackbuck 20 years ago and sentenced him to five years in jail. Salman’s advocate said the bail papers are ready and the hearing will take place at 10:30 am in the Jodhpur sessions court, today. 

If he doesn't get bail today, the actor will have to stay in jail for three more days as the court will reopen only on Monday. Other Bollywood stars, Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Tabu and Neelam Kothari, were released for lack of evidence

While delivering the final verdict on Thursday in the blackbuck poaching case, the judge said, "The way the accused killed two innocent black bucks in violation of the wildlife laws...he is a film star, people emulate him... there has been a rise in poaching incidents, so leniency is not justified." 

Salman Khan, who is 52 years-old has been taken to Jodhpur Central Jail on Thursday evening. There is heavy security arrangement at the jail and Khan has been kept alone in cell. Nobody is allowed to meet him. Besides, the accused superstar has his own guards in jail. Police said Salman Khan's family could meet him once a week, but in case of bail papers, his lawyer can meet him anytime.

In the hearing, Salman Khan had spotted a herd of blackbuck and shot dead two of them, the court was told. The Bishnois claimed that they took a bike and chased the Gypsy that Salman Khan was driving.

While Salman Khan is the most high-profile inmate at Jodhpur Central Jail, his fellow prisoners include Asaram Bapu, who was accused of raping a 15-year-old schoolgirl in his ashram in 2013. 

Annoyed Bollywood celebrities, including veteran actors Jaya Bachchan, Arjun Rampal and Subhash Ghai, openly declared their disappointment at the verdict and backed Salman Khan.

Trade analysts say that Salman Khan has nearly Rs. 600 crore riding on him and the verdict will affect at least three big projects. His current film 'Race 3', is scheduled to be release on Eid.

Earlier in 2015, Salman Khan was given clean chit in a 2002 hit-and-run case in which his Toyota Land Cruiser had crashed into men sleeping on a pavement in Mumbai's Bandra, killing one. In 2016, the Rajashtan High Court released Khan in a separate poaching case, saying that there was no evidence  that Khan had killed an endangered chinkara or endangered gazelle.