Bollywood star Salman Khan acquitted in fatal hit-and-run case

Mumbai: Legal experts on Thursday described the Bombay High Court verdict acquitting Bollywood superstar Salman Khan in the hit-and-run case as shocking and said the faith of common man in the judicial system has been shaken.

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.

“The decision of the trial court is set aside”.

He observed that Patil, who died of tuberculosis in 2007, was not a “wholly reliable witness” because of the numerous changes in his statements during the course of the trial, although he was the lone witness to testify that Salman was drunk at the wheel.

Khan’s former police bodyguard and start witness for the prosecution, Ravindra Patil had testified that Khan was driving and witnesses on the footpath such as Mannu Khan had also corroborated this by testifying that Khan got out from the driver’s side after the accident.

Salman, clad in a dark, checked shirt and jeans, showed no emotion while the verdict was being pronounced, but was later seen quietly wiping tears from his eyes in the court.

“The prosecution has not proved the case beyond reasonable doubt, and the benefit of doubt goes in favour of the accused (Salman)”.

“The prosecution failed to establish its case on all charges”, Justice A.R. Joshi told a packed courtroom, adding that Khan had been acquitted. With a combined total of over Rs500 crore for his two films, Khan became the first Bollywood actor to have surpassed the number in a single year. All the fans of Salman Khan Wishing him on #SalmanVerdict tag. In turn, Singh had stated that he crashed the vehicle after a tyre burst.

The prosecution opposed Salman’s plea and justified the invocation of culpable homicide charge against the actor saying he had driven the auto in a rash and negligent manner under the influence of liquor in September 2002, when he met with a mishap.

Unaware of what the verdict could be for him, Salman Khan was spotted cycling on the roads of Mumbai day before yesterday. Bollywood Celebrities are happy for Salman Khan and wish him on Twitter and Other socil sites. Afterwards, he appeared in court before the Justice A R Joshi on Thursday.