Salman Khan Acquitted In 2002 Accident Case

In what seemed to be a major relief for Salman Khan, the Bombay High Court observed that the Bollywood star could not be convicted on the basis of evidence that were produced in the 2002 hit-and-run case.

The court said that considering various shortcomings of the prosecution, the omissions and contradictions in evidence of injured witnesses which go to root of matter, doubt arises over the involvement of appellant accused. For example, in the FIR filed soon after the mishap, Ravindra Patil, former police bodyguard of the actor, did not implicate Salman but in the statement before Magistrate he said that Salman was driving under the influence of liquor. Mr Patil died in penury in 2007. As far as the deposition of Ashok Singh, the family driver of Salim Khan, is concerned, it was as per rules and laid down procedures of criminal law, the court said.

The incident took place 13 years ago on September 28, 2002, when the actor’s auto crashed into five homeless men sleeping on a pavement in front of the American Express bakery in Bandra. Patil was a key witness in the case and had stated that Khan had been drunk, and was speeding and had ignored his warnings to slow down.

Salman moved the Bombay High Court, which opines that section 304-II of IPC could not be applied to the case in June.

“Strong suspicion can’t be enough to hold anyone guilty”, Justice Joshi said, acquitting Salman.

Earlier, the 49-year-old arrived at the High Court at 1.30 PM following a direction from Justice Joshi to the actor’s lawyers asking him to remain present in the court at least for the operative part of the order.

Salman Khan is said to have as much as Rs 200 crore riding on him as he is slated to act in several films. Meanwhile, actress Shilpa Shirodkar told IANS: “I just wish he is acquitted from all the other cases he has on his head”.

Salman Khan case and Sheena Bora murder case are two big blots on the Mumbai police that they will find hard to live with.

The prosecution is expected to appeal the verdict in a higher court, reports stated. The lawyers accepted the verdict and stressed that the evidence that was put up before the court seemed weak and that that might have led to his acquittal. “We all should be anxious about that rather than what happens to Salman Khan”.