Bollywood superstar Salman Khan was today sentenced by a sessions court to five years’ rigorous imprisonment in the 2002 hit-and-run case, but he swiftly moved the Bombay High Court which granted him interim bail till May 8 to hear his appeal against conviction.
Justice Abhay Thipsay granted interim bail to the actor on the ground that the accused had been given only a 2-page operative part of the conviction order and not the full reasoned order by the sessions court.
“The urgency in the matter is that the appellant (Salman) who was on bail throughout the trial is likely to be taken into custody today. However, the copy of the order has not been delivered yet,” Justice Thipsay observed.
Check out the reaction on Twitter:
Highlights of Salman Khan case verdict:
1. Mumbai court convicts Bollywood actor Salman Khan in the 2002 hit-and-run case, says all charges proved.
2. Court relies upon judgements in Alistair Pereira case and Nikhil Nanda BMW case of Delhi while convicting Salman Khan.
3. Court asks Salman Khan what he has to say, actor denies charges, says he was not driving the car.
4. Salman Khan listens to verdict with tears in his eyes.
5. Court, after convicting Salman Khan, is hearing his lawyer’s arguments on the quantum of punishment
6. Court adjourned for 45 minutes after hearing arguments of defence and prosecution on quantum of sentence.
7. Prosecution to move a perjury application against Salman Khan’s driver Ashok Singh for giving false testimony
8. Salman Khan moves High Court
9. Salman Khan gets 2-day interim bail
The Judge said, in all fairness and in the interest of justice, it would be proper to protect Salman Khan for the time till a copy of the order containing reasons for conviction is furnished to him.
“The order could have been pronounced when the copy was ready. Why was the order pronounced today? It should not have been delivered if the copy is not ready,” Justice Thipsay said.
Salman Khan faces up to 10 years in jail. How do you react?
Mumbai: Salman Khan leaves for Sessions Court #SalmanVerdict https://t.co/oeQuqy3hcS
— ANI (@ANI_news) May 6, 2015
The judge also directed the actor to execute a fresh bond before the trial court today itself.
Appearing for the actor, senior counsel Harish Salve argued that Salman should be granted bail till he gets copy of the order that has details of the reasons for his conviction.
Opposing his plea, government pleader Sandeep Shinde said the High Court should not entertain it without a copy of a reasoned conviction order as required under law.
Earlier during the day, Sessions Judge D W Deshpande sentenced Salman to five years’ rigorous imprisonment holding him guilty of culpable homicide not amounting to murder section (304 IPC) and other penal laws.
The 49-year-old actor was accused of ramming his Land Toyota Cruiser into a roadside bakery shop, killing one person and injuring four others sleeping outside. He was also found guilty of driving without licence, for which he received two months jail term, and driving under influence of liquor.
The actor had tears in his eyes when the Judge delivered the verdict.
“All charges have been proved against you…What you have to say? the Judge asked Salman who was in the dock.
“I hold that you were driving the vehicle. You were intoxicated. I also do not agree with your plea that the person who had died had received fatal injuries after a crane dropped the car on the persons underneath while removing it,” the judge said, rejecting the defence’s claim that the actor’s driver Ashok Singh was at the wheel when the accident took place.
Salman, attired in a white shirt and light blue denim jeans, said, “I was not driving the car…But I respect your decision and accept it. My lawyer will speak on my behalf.”
Following is the chronology of events in the 2002 hit-and-run case in which actor Salman Khan was convicted by a Mumbai court today.
September 28, 2002: Salman’s white-colour Toyota Land Cruiser crashes into American Express Bakery at Hill Road at Bandra, killing one person and injuring four others.
Sept 28: Salman’s blood samples taken.
Sept 28: Salman arrested by Bandra Police, granted bail.
October 1: Salman booked under provisions of IPC, Motor
Vehicles Act, 1988, and Bombay Prohibition Act, 1949.
Oct 2002: Mumbai Police invokes section 304-II of IPC i.e
culpable homicide not amounting to murder which attracts
punishment of jail term of 10 years.
Oct 7, 2002: Salman surrenders again before Bandra
Police, he is arrested.
Oct 21, 2002: Mumbai Police files charge sheet in Bandra
magistrate court.
Oct 24, 2002: Salman granted bail.
March 2003: Salman challenges application of section
304-II of IPC in Mumbai sessions court.
May 2003: Sessions court rejects the plea, asks
magistrate court to frame charges.
June 2003: Salman moves Bombay High Court, which opines
that section 304-II of IPC not applicable in the case.
October 2003: Maharashtra government challenges Bombay HC
order in Supreme Court.
December 2003: SC rules that the magistrate court may
decide whether section 304-II of IPC could be applied.
October 2006: Magistrate frames charges against Salman
Khan.
Oct 3, 2007: Police bodyguard Ravindra Patil, who filed
the first FIR, dies of TB.
Oct 2011: Prosecution demands Salman Khan must be tried
under harsher sections.
December 23, 2013: Additional Chief Metropolitan
Magistrate V S Patil, after examining 17 witnesses,
invokes charge of culpable homicide not amounting to
murder on the actor and refers case to Sessions Court
for trial.
June 24, 2013: Sessions Court holds that culpable
homicide charge is applicable, rejects Salman’s appeal
against the order of Magistrate.
April 27, 2014: Fresh trial begins in Sessions Court,
first witness deposes.
July 24, 2014: Charges framed against Salman in fresh
trial by Sessions Court.
July 2014: Files in the case disappear from Bandra Police
Station. Original statements of 63 witnesses reported
missing. Court orders inquiry.
September 12, 2014: Files found and produced before
court.
Sept 2014: Pradeep Gharat appointed Special Public
Prosecutor in this case.
March 25, 2015: Prosecution closes evidence after
examining 24 witnesses.
Mar 27, 2015: Salman Khan’s statement recorded under
section 313 CrPC by Additional Sessions Judge D W
Deshpande.
March 31: Salman’s driver Ashok Singh examined as defence
witness, says he was driving the car and not the actor.
April 1: Prosecution beings arguments.
Apr 10: Salman’s lawyer begins arguments.
Apr 20: Arguments conclude.
Apr 21: Court says it would give judgement on May 6.
May 6: Court delivers verdict, Salman is convicted.
May 6: Salman Khan to be jailed for 5 years; no more compensation to be paid from his behalf
For Updates Check Bollywood News; follow us on Facebook and Twitter