Mumbai: Over 13 years after his car plowed through a group of homeless people sleeping on a pavement, killing one and wounding four, superstar Salman Khan Thursday walked free after the Bombay High Court acquitted him of “all charges”, overturning the verdict of the trial court that sentenced him to five years’ imprisonment.
The court held that the prosecution had failed to prove “beyond reasonable doubt” that the actor was driving the vehicle at the time of the accident and was drunk.
The judgment came on an appeal by the superstar, seven months after he was pronounced guilty by the trial court of running over five people sleeping on a pavement outside a laundry in suburban Bandra with his Toyota Land Cruiser, killing one and causing injury to four others on October 28, 2002.
“The appeal is allowed. The trial court’s verdict is quashed and set aside…Salman is acquitted of all the charges,” Justice AR Joshi said, reading out the judgement.
After the verdict was pronounced in a jam-packed courtroom, the 49-year-old actor, overcome with emotions, broke down in full public view before being asked by his long-time bodyguard Shera to turn his face toward the wall so people do not see his tears. A visibly relieved Salman was later seen humming a song as sister Alvira flashed a victory sign.
Lawyers assail verdict
Mumbai: Legal experts Thursday described the Bombay High Court verdict acquitting Bollywood superstar Salman Khan in the hit-and-run case as shocking and said “the faith of common man in the judicial system has been shaken.” Prosecutor Pradeep Gharat, who led the prosecution in the case in the trial court, termed the HC verdict as “shocking”, while leading criminal lawyer Abha Singh said “the faith of common man in the judicial system has been shaken.” Singh said the HC could have sent the case back to the sessions court to remove anomalies rather than giving benefit of technical hitches to Salman and acquitting him. PTI
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