The verdict is out in the ‘chinkara’ shooting case. A 5-year jail term with a fine of Rs.25,000/- has been clamped on Hindi actor Salman Khan for allegedly killing an endangered species of gazelle. Way back in 1998, the actor who was in Jodhpur for the shooting of Hum Saath Saath Hain, shot dead a chinkara and had it for ‘dinner’.

The chinkara is a small graceful animal that belongs to a type of deer family and almost borders on extinction. It is interesting to note that this animal is also considered sacred and worshipped by some communities in Rajasthan. A Jodhpur court passed the judgement against Salman under the Wildlife Protection Act.