Salman Khan’s hit-and-run case: Trial deferred till June 24

Postponements have become almost regular now in the trials for Salman Khan’s 2002 hit-and-run case. Salman’s appeal against a magistrate’s order in the case which charged him of culpable homicide not amounting to murder was scheduled to be heard today. But it has been postponed till June 24.

This time heavy downpour in the city helped the delay as staff couldn’t reach court in time. The magistrate’s stringent order was called "erroneous, bad in law and contrary to evidence on record by Salman’s counsel Ashok Mundargi. The magistrate didn’t believe that the actor neither killed people intentionally nor had the knowledge that his rash and negligent driving would cost lives and injuries. If the offence is proved, the actor would undergo a ten-year jail term and retrials at a session court.

Though previously being charged for causing death by negligence, the metropolitan magistrate probed 17 witnesses and brought the serious charges against the actor. Khan’s appeal for the retrial has found strong opposition from Public Prosecutor Shankar Erande who opine that the magistrate was correct in his charges. Advocate Abha Singh, appearing for activist Santosh Daundkar, is another party in the trail, standing against Khan. Singh alleged that Khan has taken special favour from the police and insisted that the actor should regularly appear during his court sessions. The court was also supposed to hear Daundkar’s plea today. One person was killed and four others were injured during the unfortunate hit-and-run incident on September 28, 2002 in suburban Bandra. If everything goes well, Salman’s Kick will undergo shooting on July 24.