Mumbai: 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.
The defence and prosecution had concluded their final arguments on Monday. Salman Khan’s advocate Shrikant Shivde, while concluding his arguments, said the accident occurred after a trye burst and that it was no one’s fault.
He added that after the front tyre on the left-side of the vehicle burst, the driver lost his control as the car was pulled towards left and the steering got locked, causing the accident. The actor and his driver Ashok Singh were not responsible for it, he said.
He also contended that the evidence of eyewitness Ravindra Patil cannot be considered for deciding the case as the defence did not get ample opportunity to cross examine him. Shivde argued that as Patil died before the retrial of the case and was not cross examined after the stringent charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder was applied. Hence, his evidence recorded in previous trial in the case should not be considered.
The prosecution replied to the defense arguments on law point. The prosecution contended that the defence was given ample opportunity for cross examining Patil before the magistrate court. Hence, his deposition recorded by the magistrate in the case has to be considered as he is not available for re-examination.
Meanwhile, the defence filed a contempt petition against police officials for recreating the crime scene and also against certain publications for publishing photographs of a police team while recreating the incident. The prosecution, too, moved contempt petition against the police official for the incident.
The court has scheduled the hearing on the application of social activist Santosh Dhaundkar seeking inquiry in delay in trial on April 23.
On December 3, 2013 the activist had moved a complaint before the additional metropolitan magistrate court, Bandra for delay in trial alleging that the actor and police are hand in glove and the trial has been dragged for years where the police presented false evidence before the court.
However, as the case was transferred the application too was transferred to the sessions. The court would on April 23 hear the application.
