The social media world was abuzz with reactions to Salman Khan's acquittal in two poaching cases, with many commenting on how the judgment makes a "mockery of Indian judicial system" and others who joked how the "deer must have robbed the gun and then committed suicide".
The Rajasthan High Court on Monday acquitted Salman Khan in two 18-year-old chinkara poaching cases. Salman had appealed to the Jodhpur bench of the high court against a lower court verdict in 2006 handing him a one-year and five-year terms in the two separate cases of poaching.
Bhai out for a walk #SalmanKhanRulesInternet pic.twitter.com/8ccG0mhbr2
— MedievalReactionsIN (@MedievalRxnsIN) April 21, 2015
As soon as the news of his acquittal broke on Monday, there was frenzy in the virtual world with several social media users questioning the move. Some even delved on Salman's other infamous 2002 hit-and-run case.
"Now that Salman Khan is free from all the charges, he can shut the Being Human NGO down," commented one user. Another tweeted: "Don't tell me it was bhai's driver again!"
There were more such messages: "On the positive side...now that he is acquitted....Salman Khan will stop making and wearing those ugly being human T-shirts"; that "His acquittal is nothing but a small portion of preparations required for him to settle down. A mockery to Indian judicial system".
Exclusive picture of evidence submitted by Salman Khan's lawyer. pic.twitter.com/wWF6yR8Fuz
— Sagar (@sagarcasm) July 25, 2016
Some angry social media users condemned the judgment as "shameless".
"In India, law is only for poor. But more bad thing is that people like such personalities," wrote one user.
Salman Khan acquitted in poaching case after 18 years.
— Ramesh Srivats (@rameshsrivats) July 25, 2016
Probably because all the victim's friends and relatives have already died of old age.
Other comments were: "Nothing new, it's just the Indian judiciary acting like Indian judiciary", "Salman Khan is the real ambassador of technological development in India. Driver-less cars, Self-firing guns", "Though I like Salman Khan this is a sad day for our judicial system... everyone seems blindfolded to the verdict".
Salman and the state government had appealed before the high court challenging the lower court's verdicts on various grounds. On Monday, Justice Nirmaljit Kaur while allowing Salman's appeal, acquitted him of all charges and also dismissed the state government appeal for enhancing the sentences.
I'll just leave this here. #salmankhan pic.twitter.com/dOoCBqwRXn
— Sahil Shah (@SahilBulla) July 25, 2016
The hearing was completed in the last week of May and the order reserved. Salman was accused of killing chinkaras in two separate incidents.
One animal was said to have been killed at Bhawad on the outskirts of Jodhpur on September 26, 1998, and the other at Ghoda Farms on September 28, 1998. He was shooting for the film "Hum Saath Saath Hain" at that time.
Aftr "Being Human" and "Being Sultan"#SalmanKhan can hv a new print on his T-Shirt "Being Acquitted"#SalmanVerdict pic.twitter.com/mtGHzAYpPd
— Rohit Sharma (@imRo45_) July 25, 2016
Salman was earlier lodged in the Jodhpur jail over the cases.
Salman's sister Alvira was present in the jampacked court room when the judgement was pronounced on Monday, but no official comment has been released from the actor's side.
Gandhi Ji's last words : 'Hey Ram'
— Rohit Swain (@rhtswn) July 25, 2016
Black Buck's last words : 'Hey Bhai'#SalmanKhan #SalmanVerdict
B-TOWN HAILS SALMAN'S ACQUITTAL IN POACHING CASES
Several Bollywood celebrities including filmmakers Subhash Ghai and Ram Gopal Varma have welcomed the Rajasthan High Court's decision on superstar Salman Khan's acquittal in two 18-year-old chinkara poaching cases.
Salman had appealed before the Jodhpur bench of the high court challenging a lower court verdict in 2006 handing him a one and five-year term in the two separate cases of poaching.
Ghai, who shares a close bond with Salman, tweeted: "Acquittal (of) Salman Khan is (a) story of bad times (and) good times. I fully believe in our judiciary with many doors open to knock for fair justice".
Meanwhile, Varma expressed displeasure over the time it took for the verdict.
"Only celebrity cases make us realise how dead slow judiciary works. It's scary, it took 20 years for court to decide Salman Khan is not guilty," he tweeted.
Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit also congratulated Salman and his father and veteran lyricist Salim Khan.
Actress Shweta Rohira posted: "My happiness and relief knows no bounds today! Goodness wins! Love you bhai."
However, the news didn't go down well with some.
A post on an unverified page of actress Renuka Shahane on Facebook censured the judgment raising questions like "Who killed the black buck and the chinkaras? Did the driver kill them? Did nobody kill them? Do judges decide according to Buckworth-Lewis method? Who will pay for the mental torture that Salman has had to go through now that he has been declared not guilty? Doesn't the nation want to know the truth?"
Salman and the state government had appealed before the High Court challenging the lower court's verdicts on various grounds.
On Monday, Justice Nirmaljit Kaur while allowing Salman's appeal, acquitted him of all charges and also dismissed the state government appeal for enhancing the sentences.
The hearing was completed in the last week of May and the order reserved. Salman was accused of killing chinkaras in two separate incidents.
One animal was said to have been killed at Bhawad on the outskirts of Jodhpur on September 26, 1998 and the other at Ghoda Farms on September 28, 1998. He was shooting for the film "Hum Saath Saath Hain" at that time.
Salman was earlier lodged in the Jodhpur jail over the cases. Salman's sister Alvira was present in the jam packed court room when the judgment was pronounced.
PETA INDIA CONDEMNS SALMAN KHAN'S ACQUITTAL IN POACHING CASE
The acquittal of Bollywood star Salman Khan in two 18-year-old chinkara poaching cases on Monday comes as a "massive shock and disappointment for people across the nation who care for animals", said a PETA India official.
Poorva Joshipura, CEO of the animal rights organisation People for Ethical Treatment of Animals, expressed concern that the verdict could "encourage others to try their luck and kill wild animals".
"Whether you're a film star or not, the public expects wildlife protection laws and punishments for violating them to apply equally to everyone.
"While we do not know the details of what transpired in court, we can say that this verdict will come as a massive shock and disappointment for people across the nation who care for animals as they will likely feel it makes light of animal protection laws," Joshipura said in a statement.
"The clean-chit verdict may encourage others to try their luck and to kill wild animals. Salman Khan has in recent years expressed he cares about dogs and we hope that this experience will encourage him to expand that circle of compassion to other species and to use his star status to now speak out against hunting and other cruelty," Joshipura added.
Salman had appealed before the Jodhpur bench of the high court challenging a lower court verdict in 2006 handing him a one and five-year term in the two separate cases of poaching.
On Monday, Justice Nirmaljit Kaur while allowing Salman's appeal, acquitted him of all charges and also dismissed the state government appeal for enhancing the sentence.
