Here's An Interesting Viewpoint...

5yrs is a tough sentence. Did he deserve it? Maybe? It is quite obvious that he is guilty, and there is video evidence to prove it. I'm not sure if Salman Khan himself has come out and said he is not guilty (or the reasons why he did it). A little remorse might have spared such a harsh sentence. After all people get two or three years for commiting attempted murder, rape and so on and this sentence is almost like the judge is saying 'you had no grounds for appeal, except your star status, i'm handing down a bigger punishment for wasting court time''.

He shouldn't have appealed. Now he is going to be crying in the showers, and eating porridge for five years. Indian jail wardens will enjoy beating him, media will finally get to see what made him guilty, and he can start mending his ways. He is supposed to be a Muslim, but has erred previously. Time to walk the straight path and stop trying to act like a hard man. Sooner or later every hard man meets a like minded individual who is worse than him. In this case the lethal judge.

Killing an endagered species is serious. If he went and killed 2 of the last few hundred bengal tigers living, then people would be outraged across the world (if he was say a Hollywood star). The only thing that stinks in all this is the time it has taken to reach a verdict and the resources used which could have been put to better use (such as more measures to protect animals who are endangered).

But, there are mixed views... another source says:

Salman's inner connection to get him out of five years of imprisonment
Media Release (source www.indiadaily.com/editorial/7937.asp)
Apr. 10, 2006


Bollywood actor Salman Khan was today sentenced to five years rigorous imprisonment and sent to central jail in Jodhpur by a local court in connection with the black buck poaching case.

But experts say the down fall of the first Bollywood Khans may be temporary after all. Salman has enough connections in the Indian security infrastructure to get him out of this in no time.

According to media reports, Chief Judicial Magistrate Brijendra Kumar Jain also imposed Rs. 25,000 fine on Salman, who was taken into custody and sent to the jail. The court ordered one year rigorous imprisonment for co-accused Govardhan Singh and imposed Rs. 5000 fine. Four other persons were acquitted in the 1998 case when a chinkara was killed by Salman at Ghora farmhouse in Jodhpur.

I say...

5 years is totally unfair. The same is happening to Salman what happened to Sanjay Dutt in the early 90's. Media just needs a reason to pinpoint him. However, Salman Khan is known to have underworld connections and he's a massive star in India, there's no doubt about it. And it is these connections that will come to his help - well, I hope so, even though i'm not a great fan of Salman's, i think he will come out before 5 years. Many people go to jail and discover the real meaning of life. Islam. I hope going to jail opens up Salman's eye's and makes him into a better human being.