A Toyota Land Cruiser allegedly driven by Salman, had allegedly crushed a group of people in 2002
New Delhi:
Actor Salman Khan's retrial in the 2002 hit-and-run case began today with the partial deposition of a witness in a Mumbai court. The deposition had to be deferred because material evidence 'could not be traced' and there was no identification of the evidence in the panchnama prepared by the police. The court also asked Salman to remain present on May 6 when the eye witnesses, who were injured in the mishap, would be examined by the prosecution. (Also read: Also read: Salman Khan appeared in Mumbai court in hit-and-run case )
The eye witnesses are crucial to the prosecution's case as they may be asked to identify Salman in the court as the person who was driving the car the day of the occurrence of the mishap. The actor, of course, would have a right to cross-examine them, if he decides to do so. The witness, who deposed today, was asked to come again on May 2 to identify the articles which were seized by police in his presence.
The witness told the court that a big car had rammed into a shop and its bumper had hit the shutter. He said he saw glass pieces, the number plate of the car and bumper parts lying on the spot which were later seized by the police. "I can identify the articles collected by police from the place of accident," the witness told the court. Although the prosecution has submitted a list of 64 witnesses, it will not examine all of them, according to the public prosecutor.(Also read: Salman beats Hrithik to become India's fittest actor )
On December 5 last year, the court had ordered a fresh trial on the grounds that the witnesses had not been examined in the context of an aggravated charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder which was invoked against the actor midway through the case. The charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder carries a maximum jail sentence of 10 years.
Mr Khan was earlier being tried for the lesser offence of causing death by negligence, which carries a punishment of upto two years in jail.
In September 2002, Mr Khan was allegedly driving a Toyota Land Cruiser that ran over a group of people sleeping on the pavement outside a bakery in suburban Bandra. One person was killed and four others were injured in the accident.
The case has gone from court to court with arguments centred around whether Mr Khan was driving the car that day or not. The Mumbai police say they have enough evidence against him.
In 1998, Salman Khan spent three days in prison for killing black buck, an endangered species of deer, in Rajasthan. The actor's appeals in separate poaching cases are currently pending in the Rajasthan courts.
The 48-year-old actor has starred in some of Bollywood's highest-earning films in the last five years. He last appeared in January's Jai Ho, co-starring debutante Daisy Shah and was recently shooting for his movie Kick in Poland.
with PTI inputs
The eye witnesses are crucial to the prosecution's case as they may be asked to identify Salman in the court as the person who was driving the car the day of the occurrence of the mishap. The actor, of course, would have a right to cross-examine them, if he decides to do so. The witness, who deposed today, was asked to come again on May 2 to identify the articles which were seized by police in his presence.
The witness told the court that a big car had rammed into a shop and its bumper had hit the shutter. He said he saw glass pieces, the number plate of the car and bumper parts lying on the spot which were later seized by the police. "I can identify the articles collected by police from the place of accident," the witness told the court. Although the prosecution has submitted a list of 64 witnesses, it will not examine all of them, according to the public prosecutor.(Also read: Salman beats Hrithik to become India's fittest actor )
On December 5 last year, the court had ordered a fresh trial on the grounds that the witnesses had not been examined in the context of an aggravated charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder which was invoked against the actor midway through the case. The charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder carries a maximum jail sentence of 10 years.
Mr Khan was earlier being tried for the lesser offence of causing death by negligence, which carries a punishment of upto two years in jail.
In September 2002, Mr Khan was allegedly driving a Toyota Land Cruiser that ran over a group of people sleeping on the pavement outside a bakery in suburban Bandra. One person was killed and four others were injured in the accident.
The case has gone from court to court with arguments centred around whether Mr Khan was driving the car that day or not. The Mumbai police say they have enough evidence against him.
In 1998, Salman Khan spent three days in prison for killing black buck, an endangered species of deer, in Rajasthan. The actor's appeals in separate poaching cases are currently pending in the Rajasthan courts.
The 48-year-old actor has starred in some of Bollywood's highest-earning films in the last five years. He last appeared in January's Jai Ho, co-starring debutante Daisy Shah and was recently shooting for his movie Kick in Poland.
with PTI inputs
