The Rajasthan Government has approached the Supreme Court to appeal against the order of Rajasthan High Court acquitting actor Salman Khan in two cases involving poaching of chinkaras, an endangered animal under the Wildlife Protection Act.
In its appeal filed before the Supreme Court, the State Government was critical against the July 26, 2016 verdict by the Rajasthan High Court dismissing the case of the prosecution on the ground that there was to evidence to suggest that the gun in possession of Salman was used to kill the three chinkaras in two separate cases against the actor. The incident occurred in the year 1998 near Jodhpur, when the actor was shooting for the film Hum Saath Saath Hain.
The actor was charged under Section 51 of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 for killing chinkara, an endangered gazelle. He allegedly killed two chinkaras in Bhawad village on September 26-27, 1998 and another one in Ghoda Farm, Mathania a day later.
The trial court in 2006 had convicted him in both cases and sentenced him to undergo punishments of one year and five years respectively for the two offences. This verdict was challenged by the actor before the High Court, which ruled in his favour.
‘Thumps Up’ to Ranveer, Salman not Coca cola’s ambassador now
Beverages major Coca Cola India has dropped Bollywood superstar Salman Khan as brand ambassador for its soft drink ‘Thums Up’ after four years of association and the company is in talks with young star Ranveer Singh to replace him. The contract with Khan had expired last month and the company has chosen not to renew it, according to industry sources. When contacted, Coca Cola India declined to comment.
The company's decision to not to renew the contract with the 50-year-old actor is more to do with the image of Coca Cola, which is seen as a young brand, a source said. “That explains why Coca Cola is talking to a much younger star like Ranveer Singh,” the source added. Khan has been among the top celebrity endorsers reportedly charging Rs 5 crore per year per brand.
Recently, he had courted controversy when he supported Pakistani artists+ saying "they were not terrorists" in the wake of a debate on whether they should be allowed to work in Indian movies after the Uri attack.
Coca Cola India had roped in Khan as its brand ambassador for the second time to endorse its Thums Up brand in October 2012 replacing another Bollywood star Akshay Kumar. He had earlier endorsed the brand in early 2000s.
At that time, Coca-Cola India had also signed an agreement with Being Human, The Salman Khan Foundation, to jointly promote, conceive and execute charitable and social activities