Salman Khan hit-and-run case: Mumbai court to pronounce verdict on May 6

A Mumbai court on Tuesday said the verdict for the 2002 hit-and-run case against Bollywood actor Salman Khan will be pronounced on May 6. The defence and prosecution concluded their final arguments on Monday.

13-years after the hit-and-run case was registered, trial against the actor Salman Khan has ended and the court would pronounce the verdict in the case on May 6. Khan will have to remain present in the court as per law on that day.

The prosecution in the case has claimed that the actor was drunk and was driving at high speed due to which his car rammed into the bakery, killing one and injuring four others who were sleeping on the pavement of bakery on September 28, 2002.

However, refuting the prosecution case, defence contended that the actor was not at the wheel but the car was driven by his driver Ashok Singh, who was examined as a defence witness in the case.

The prosecution has examined total 27 witnesses in the case, including eyewitnesses, persons who got injured in the accident, employees of the rain bar – waiter and manager, employees of J W Marriot, doctor who took blood sample of the actor, doctors who treated the injured, forensic experts, RTO officer and police officers.

Salman-Khan-at-the-sessions-Court-in-Mumbai-in-connection-with-the-2002-hit-and-run-case-PTI-Photo

Out of 27 witnesses only Sachin Gangaram Kadam, a watchman at a building near the place of incident, did not support the prosecution case.

The 2002 hit-and-run case:
* September 28, 2002: Actor Salman Khan’s Toyota Land Cruiser crashed into a bakery in Bandra, killing one and injuring four others who were sleeping on a pavement. The actor was arrested and granted bail

* October 2002: The police filed a charge sheet against Khan on charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder

* 2003: Khan challenged the application of the section first before the sessions court. The court rejected Khan’s plea and applied the section to the case, after which he moved the Bombay high court (HC). The HC held that section 304 part II of the Indian Penal Code (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) was not applicable in the case

* October 2003: After the HC order, the state moved the Supreme Court (SC) against the order. The SC set aside both the orders and held that the magistrate should, after perusal of the evidence, decide whether the harsher section is applicable to the case

* 2006: The magistrate court framed charges against the actor under 304 A of IPC (rash and negligent driving) and other relevant sections

* March 2011: The prosecution sought that Khan be tried for more serious charge of section 304 part II

* December 2012: The magistrate court added the section and committed the trial to sessions court

* July 23, 2013: The sessions court framed charges against the actor for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, under which if proved guilty, the actor may face jail term up to 10 years

* August 19, 2013: The case was assigned to a new judge

* November 19, 2013: Khan pleaded for a fresh trial before the sessions court

* December 5, 2013: Fresh trial was ordered

* March 30, 2015: Salman Khan’s driver Ashok Singh confessed he was driving the car and not the actor

* April 1, 2015: The prosecution began final argument

* April 9, 2015: Prosecution concluded their arguments

* April 10, 2015: Defense began final argument

* April 20, 2015: Defense completed the argument

# Charges against the actor
Indian Penal Code
304 part II (culpable homicide not amounting to murder)
279 (rash and negligent driving)
337 (causing hurt by act endangering life)
338 (causing grievous hurt)
427 (mischief causing damage to property)

Motor Vehicle Act
Sections 34(a) and (b)
(cancellation of registration of vehicle) read with 181 (driving vehicle in contravention of rules)
185 (driving at great speed after taking drinks) of the Bombay Prohibition Act