MUMBAI: The Sessions court judge UB Hejib has upheld the magistrate’s decision of invoking the charge of culpable homicide against Bollywood superstar Salman Khan with regard to the 2002 hit-and-run case in which one was killed and four others were injured. Salman Khan had allegedly rammed his Toyota Land Cruiser into a bakery on the night of 28 September.
If Salman Khan is proven guilty under this section, he could face imprisonment up to a maximum of ten years.
As reported earlier, Salman Khan was to face a lesser charge of causing death by negligence. But after the metropolitan magistrate heard 17 more witnesses, he brought forth a more serious charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder.
The actor had moved the court against this order stating that it was passed in a hurry and the magistrate did not consider a cross-examination of the prosecution witnesses.
In the sessions court Salman Khan’s contention was rejected as the prosecution provided a detailed order saying that the actor was warned to drive slow by his bodyguard as he was drunk. Yet, he drove at 100kmph, which resulted in the mishap, the court said.
The sessions court upheld the magistrate’s decision that the actor held sufficient knowledge about his actions and said that if the court was satisfied and the evidence is well-founded and trustworthy, then the court need not get into multiple corroborations.
Salman Khan has been asked to appear before the sessions court within a month. The case if adjourned to 19 July, when the trial may begin.
The only way for the actor to avoid the trial would be to file a writ petition before the Bombay High Court and obtain a stay order. If not, Salman Khan will have to face trial.
