Blackbuck poaching case: Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Neelam Kothari, Sonali Bendre Behl issued noticeMar 11 (AZINS) Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Neelam Kothari, Sonali Bendre Behl and Dushyant Singh's acquittal in the blackbuck poaching case has been challenged. After Rajasthan's state government challenged their acquittal in the case by a local court, Jodhpur High Court has now issued a notice to the actors, reports ANI.

"Black Buck Poaching case: Jodhpur High Court issues a notice to Saif Ali Khan, Sonali Bendre, Neelam Kothari, Tabu and Dushyant Singh on an appeal by state govt challenging their acquittal in the case by a local court. #Rajasthan," tweeted the wire agency.

While actor Salman Khan was convicted in the case on April 5, 2018, others were acquitted by a Jodhpur trial court. On April 5 last year, CJM Devkumar Khatri had found Salman Khan guilty under Section 9/51 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act and was sentenced to five years in jail and was fined Rs. 10,000 in the case of blackbuck poaching. On April 7, the Bollywood actor was released from the Jodhpur jail after being granted bail on a bond of Rs 50,000 and two sureties of like amount by a District and Sessions court. He spent two nights in the Jodhpur Central Jail.

The blackbuck case began after Salman and others were accused of killing two blackbucks, a rare and sacred species in Bhagoda ki Dhani in Kankani village near Jodhpur on the intervening night of October 1-2, 1998. At the time, Salman, Saif, Tabu, Sonali and Neelam were shooting for their film Hum Saath Saath Hain.