Salman Khan's lawyer speaks up, says his verdict was "a surprise"

Salman Khan was sentenced to five years in prison yesterday in a blackbuck poaching case from 1998.

The actor spent a night at Jodhpur Central Jail, but his defence lawyers are appealing to the sessions court to seek relief for the actor, reports Economic Times.

Legal counsel Anand Desai pointed out how Salman has been acquitted in other cases where the facts were the same as the 1998 poaching case.

"We respect the decision of the Hon'ble Court. While we are studying the judgement, it just came as a surprise, as the entire investigation, and facts of this case were the same as those for which Salman has been acquitted by the Hon'ble High Court of Rajasthan in two cases, and even by the Hon'ble CJM in the Arms Act matter for the alleged offence on the very same night as is the subject matter of the present case," said Anand.

He added, "Also, in the present case the Hon'ble Court has acquitted all the 5 co-accused which would imply that Salman was out hunting alone in the middle of the night in a remote area outside Jodhpur. We have preferred an appeal to the Hon'ble Sessions Court and applied for an urgent hearing today."

According to Desai, the sessions court will hear the appeal for suspension of the sentence tomorrow morning.