Salman Khan acquitted in the hit-and-run case

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court acquitted actor Salman Khan today in the hit and run case.

Salman Khan’s father Salim Khan says he is happy and relieved after his son’s acquittal in the 2002 hit-and-run case.

On hearing this, Salman Khan broke down in tears. He said that his driver Ashok Singh had been behind the wheel at the time. “Salman Khan is acquitted of all charges”, Justice Joshi said.

It also termed the key witness Ravindra Patil, Salman’s then police bodyguard “not wholly reliable witness” and said it was hard to rely on his testimony.

This is definitely going to send the Bollywood and other film industry celebrities as well as the fans of Salman Khan in a festive mood.

The prosecution has not increased the case against the actor because of the doubt which is reasonable and it should be needed under criminal law. He also challenged the prosecution’s step of relying upon Patil’s statement in the trial court, saying this witness died and hence was not available for cross-examination.

Salman Khan has repeatedly denied that he was driving the vehicle.

The Bombay High Court on Thursday gave a clean chit to Salman in the September 28, 2002, accident case citing lack of evidence.

The judgement reversed the sentence given by a Mumbai sessions court in May, which had charged the 49-year-old actor with culpable homicide.

In October, the government of Maharashtra challenged the HC’s order in the Supreme Court.

One of the victims was killed; the others injured.

The actor had been sentenced to five years in jail by the trial court, which had held him guilty of killing a man with his SUV after a night out drinking. Summons had been issued to Khan by the trial court but the matter was not followed up further.

On the main aspects as to driving and drunkenness, the prosecution has not brought any material evidence which spells out the offence of the accused, the court said.