Hit & Run Case: Salman Khan’s verdict on May 6

Bollywood superstar Salman Khan‘s ‘Hit & Run Trial’ case is coming to end now. A sessions court will pronounce the judgment in the 2002 alleged hit and run case involving actor Salman Khan on May 6. Judge D W Deshpande announced the date before a packed court room today. Bollywood actor Salman Khan is facing trial for nearly 13 years in an accident case in Bandra during the early hours of September 28, 2002. Khan allegedly drove his SUV on to the pavement in Hill Road, Bandra in Mumba’s suburbs, killing one person and injuring four others.

The announcement follows the culmination of a trial that commenced in April last year. Khan will have to be present on the day of judgement. Salman Khan has beeen charged under the Indian Penal Code Section 304 II (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) which attracts up to 10 years in prison; Section 279 (rash and negligent driving) which attracts six months’ jail; Sections 337 & 338 (causing hurt by act endangering life and causing grievous hurt) with punishment up to two years; and Section 427 (mischief causing damage to property) with maximum punishment of up to two years.

He has also been charged under the Motor Vehicle Act Sections 34 (a),(b) read with 181 (driving vehicle in contravention of rules) and 185 (driving at great speed after consuming alcohol with punishment of cancellation of driving licence); and sections of the Bombay Prohibition Act dealing with driving under influence of alcohol which attract maximum six months’ jail.

Special public prosecutor Pradeep Gharat has examined 27 witnesses with one turning hostile, whereas defense advocate Srikant Shivde presented one defense witness Ashok Singh. Singh’s statement had added a new twist to the case, when Singh admitted that it was not Salman Khan driving the car on that fateful night but he himself was behind the wheel.

In another development, the court decided to hear on April 23 an application filed by activist Santosh Daundkar seeking action against police officials for perjury giving false evidence in the case. Santosh Daundkar had pleaded that police had brought a wrong set of doctors in this case to lead evidence and this not only vitiated the trial but also resulted into undue delay. The court would hear his application on April 23.