Salman Khan moves SC; wants to be heard
Salman Khan moved the SC, stating that he should be 'heard' when the appeal of the Maharashtra government is being heard. Maharashtra government had challenged Khan's acquittal by the Bombay High Court in the 2002 hit-and-run case on 22 January. It is expected that senior advocate Harish Salve will appear on behalf of the actor, while AGI Mukul Rohatgi will appear for Maharashtra government.
Salman Khan allegedly ran his Land Cruiser over some people sleeping outside the American Express Bakery in Bandra, killing one and injuring four others. He was accompanied by singer Kamaal Khan and Ravindra Patil, a bodyguard provided by the Mumbai police. Police invoked section 304-II of IPC i.e. culpable homicide not amounting to murder, which attracts a 10-year jail term.
In March, Salman challenged the application of section 304-II of IPC in Mumbai sessions court, which was rejected in May. The Bombay High Court opined that section 304-II of IPC was not applicable in the case. This order was challenged by Maharashtra government in Supreme Court. In December, SC ruled that the Magistrate Court may decide whether section 304-II of IPC could be applied.
In 2013, Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate VS Patil after examining 17 witnesses, invoked the charge of 'culpable homicide' not amounting to murder on the actor and referred the case to sessions court for trial. The prime reason for applying this section was the cop Ravindra Patil's statement. He said it was the actor who had been driving drunk. Patel was the prosecution's main witness.
Salman's driver Ashok Singh claimed in court that he was driving when the mishap happened. However, these claims were slashed by the prosecution on the grounds of being "brought up" towards the end of the trial. The prosecution also came hard on Khan for trying to falsely implicate Patil with the claims that he had been sleeping when the accident took place.
Bollywood superstar Salman Khan has been sentenced to five years in jail after he was found guilty of killing a homeless man in a 2002 hit-and-run after a night out drinking. Judge DW Deshpande convicted the 49-year-old of culpable homicide, not amounting to murder. The actor has been held guilty for all the charges levied on him. He was given a 2-day bail.
The Bombay High Court suspended Salman Khan's sentence in the hit and run case. The appeal will be most likely heard in July. The actor has to pay Rs. 30,000 as fresh bail bond. The HC further asked that Kamaal Khan's statement be brought in.
Ashok Singh, the driver who in March had claimed that it was him behind the wheels in 2002 now faces charges of perjury.
Giving respite to Salman Khan, the Mumbai high court overturned the lower court's conviction of Khan in the 2002 hit-and-run case. The HC acquitted Bollywood's megastar of all charges. The prosecution will most likely challenge this verdict. The high court said that the primary evidence which included the testimony from a policeman (who is now dead) was not reliable.​
With Salman Khan walking scot free, survivors in the hit-and-run case demanded "justice and compensation". The victims who suffered grave injuries were visibly dissatisfied with Bombay HC's decision asking the actor to compensate them so they could bring up their children and provide for their families. Notably, Salman Khan had deposited Rs.19 lakhs in Bombay HC which are yet to be allocated.
The Maharashtra government informed the Bombay high court of its decision to file an appeal in the Supreme Court against actor Salman Khan's acquittal in the 2002 hit-and-run case. On 21 December, Maharashtra CM Fadnavis had announced that the state government would analyze the December 10 verdict of Bombay HC before determining whether to dispute it or not.
