How Jagdeep Dhankhar helped Salman Khan get out of jail in Blackbuck case

Jagdeep Dhankhar, who recently resigned as Vice President of India citing health reasons, is back in the spotlight. But before making waves in the political arena, Dhankhar was an accomplished advocate. One of his notable achievements from his legal career is now making headlines once again.

The Legal Case That Made Headlines
Long before his rise to the country’s second-highest constitutional office, Dhankhar was a seasoned lawyer. In 2018, he played a pivotal role in helping Salman Khan secure bail in the 1998 blackbuck poaching case—a case that continues to attract national attention.


The incident took place near Kankani village in Jodhpur during the shooting of Hum Saath Saath Hain. At that time, two blackbucks were allegdly killed. The animals are a protected species under India’s Wildlife Protection Act. While co-stars Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Neelam, and Sonali Bendre were acquitted, Salman Khan was convicted and sentenced to five years in prison by a Jodhpur trial court on April 5, 2018.

Dhankhar’s Key Role in Khan’s Bail
Salman Khan’s legal team, led by Dev Anand Gehlot, brought in Dhankhar for his legal expertise to handle the bail proceedings. His strategic legal intervention proved crucial.

On April 7, 2018—just two days after Khan’s conviction—District and Sessions Judge Ravindra Kumar Joshi granted bail. Khan had spent two nights in Jodhpur Central Jail. The bail was approved on a personal bond of Rs 50,000, along with two sureties of Rs 25,000 each. Conditions included a travel restriction: Khan could not leave the country without court permission and had to appear in court on May 7, 2018.

A Turning Point in Dhankhar’s Career
Dhankhar’s involvement in the high-profile case highlighted his legal prowess. It was one of the prominent moments in his legal career, reinforcing his public image and laying the groundwork for his eventual transition into politics. He went on to serve as Governor of West Bengal and later became Vice President of India in 2022.