Judge D W Deshpande in the open court said that Salman Khan’s 2002 hit and run case has been put up on May 6 where verdict will be pronounced once the defence finished their arguments. Shrikant Shivade lawyer representing Salman Khan argued that the eyewitness Ravindra Patil’s evidence should not be considered as he had passed away and he was not there to give cross-examination and as there was more opportunity given to the defence to cross examine the witness. Patil had said in his statement that Khan was in inebriated condition and so went and rammed his Toyota Land Cruiser into a bakery which killed 1 person and injured 4 other people. But Salman’s lawyer stated that the accident was purely because of tyre burst and it was not anyone’s fault. Police had claimed that Salman had reached the place of accident in Bandra at 2.45 am driving his vehicle at a speed of 90 kmph which Salman had denied. Prosecution had also claimed that the actor was driving the car when the accident took place but Salman refused it and said his driver was driving the car and he was in the driver’s seat. Shivade argued that police should not re-investigate the offence now as it is over and it may prejudice the accused. Praddep Gharat who is a Special Public Prosecutor also had filed an application against Kane who had recreated the scene of offence without consulting him where Gharat said that Kane was just assisting him in the case and not an investigating officer.
Sessions Court had ordered a fresh trial in 2013 when a new charges were laid against the actor on culpable homicide not amounting to murder under Section 304(2) of IPC wherein he can get punishment up to 10 years of jail. It was the actor’s rash driving that claimed the life of Nurullah Mehboob Sharif and also injured Munna Malai Khan, Kalim Mohammed Pathan Muslim Shaikhand Abdullah Rauf Shaikh but Salman Khan said that it was mechanical defect and not his. Salman also argued that there was no culpability case as he was not driving.
by Sushma Javare.