New Delhi: Bollywood star Salman Khan’s name has been entwined with the infamous blackbuck poaching case for over two decades. And just when it seemed to have simmered down, an old interview from 2008 reignited the conversation.
For the unversed, the Tiger 3 actor was accused of poaching blackbucks in Rajasthan during the filming of his 1998 film Hum Saath-Saath Hain, along with co-stars Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, and Sonali Bendre. Despite a long legal battle involving arrests, acquittals, and convictions, the case remains one of the most talked-about controversies in Tinseltown even today.
Did Salman Khan kill the black buck?
In a clip from 2008, which has now gone viral on the micro-blogging site Reddit, Salman is seen addressing the Blackbuck case. When the interviewer suggests he wouldn’t have shot the animal if he knew it was endangered, the Dabangg actor responded with a surprising remark: “I wasn’t the one who shot the blackbuck.” The actor’s nonchalant response stirred the curiosity of many. When pressed on why he never shifted the blame to anyone else, he simply stated, “There’s no point.”
The casual tone of Salman’s remarks has sparked fresh discussions online, with netizens divided. One user wrote in the comments, “Old cases are strong, if he committed the same crime now that would have been closed by now. Give me on example like this happened in last 10-12 years.” Another took a jibe at his drink and drive case and added, “He is telling the truth.Not many knows but those who know believes that it was the same driver who ran over the people sleeping in the side of the road with Salman’s car.”
Is Salman Khan’s life under threat?
Recently, the infamous Blackbuck case has also brought a dangerous twist into Salman’s life. The Lawrence Bishnoi gang, known for their reverence towards blackbucks, has repeatedly issued threats demanding an apology from the actor. Last week, the actor reportedly received a message demanding Rs 5 crore to settle the dispute with Lawrence. The Mumbai police later clarified that the sender claimed the threat was sent by mistake, but the issue has not entirely been put to rest.
On the work front, Salman Khan is busy serving as the host for Bigg Boss 18. Additionally, he is preparing for his next big-screen release, Sikandar, set to release on Eid. Co-starring Rashmika Mandanna, the film is expected to be a crowd-puller.