2002 Hit-and- Run Case : Court Records Statement of Salman Khan

27 March, Mumbai

A local court in Mumbai Friday recorded the statement of Bollywood actor Salman Khan in connection with the 2002 hit-and-run case.

Khan appeared before Sessions Judge D W Deshpande . He was accompanied by his two sisters–Alvira and Arpita to the court.

Judge Deshpande recorded the actor’s statement under section313 of Criminal Procedure Code, giving him an opportunity to puthis version of the incident. Earlier, defence advocate Shrikant Shivade, representing Khan, made an application seeking a restraint on media persons from attending the court proceedings.

However, the Judge rejected his application and directed media persons not to report about the proceedings till the conclusion of Khan’s statement.

The court also directed the media persons to just publish a news report and not to make any analysis or comments on the trial. It may be recalled that on September 28, 2002, Khan’s sports utility vehicle rammed into a bakery in the western suburb of Bandra, in which one person was killed and four others were injured. Special public prosecutor Pradeehp Gharat said that the court had examined 25 witnesses in the re-trial of the case.

‘Now, if Khan wants to examine any witnesses, he can do so, otherwise, arguments would be done on the available evidence and thereafter, the court will pronounce the verdict in the case,’ he added.

The re-trial is being held in a sessions court after a magistrate court added the charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder against Khan, which lays down punishment up to ten years.

The prosecution has alleged that the actor was under influence of alcohol and examined witnesses to prove that charge. It has also alleged that he did not have a driving licence at the time of incident.

The prosecution further alleged that Khan was driving the SUV in a rash and negligent manner. In this regard, it has relied upon the statement of Khan’s police bodyguard Ravindra Patil to a Magistrate earlier.
However, Patil died of prolonged illness.