Hit-and-run case: Court to decide on Bollywood actor Salman Khan’s fate on May 6

By NewsGram Staff Writer

A day after the prosecution, led by special public prosecutor Pradeep Gharat, and the defence team led by Shrikant Shivade completed their arguments in the Salman Khan hit-and-run case,the Mumbai Session court has announced May 6 as the verdict date.

The verdict in the 13-year-old case of an accident involving Bollywood actor Salman Khan, will be pronounced by Mumbai Session court Additional Sessions Judge D. W. Deshpande.

The accident took place in the early hours of September 28, 2002, which left one pavement dweller dead and four others injured.

Nurullah Mehboob Sharif succumbed to his injuries and four others – Munna Malai Khan, Kalim Mohammed Pathan, Abdullah Rauf Shaikh and Muslim Sheikh were injured.

Salman was charged under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Section 304 II (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) which attracts upto 10 years in prison; Section 279 (rash and negligent driving) which stipulates six months jail; Section 337 and 338 (causing hurt by act endangering life & causing grievous hurt) with punishment upto two years; Section 427 (mischief causing damage to property) with maximum punishment of upto two years.

Also, Motor Vehicle Act, Section 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 license; and sections of the Bombay Prohibition Act dealing with diving under influence of alcohol which attract maximum six months in jail.

The testimony of defense witness Ashok Singh, Salman Khan's driver, had given a different twist to the case after he claimed that it was him and not the actor behind the wheel on the intervening night.

On the allegations of drunk driving, Khan had earlier told the court that he was drinking water during his visit to the Rain Bar and J W Marriot. The chemical analyser had found it to be otherwise, saying that his blood tested positive for alcohol which was more than double the permissible limit.