Actor Salman Khan was today found guilty in a hit-and-run case that occurred in 2002. According to reports, a judge at a Mumbai Sessions court told the actor that all charges against him were proven and the actor was driving the car under the influence of alcohol.
He was sentenced to five years in prison for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, according to reports and will be taken to Arthur Road Jail tonight. He can reportedly still apply to the High Court for bail.
Upon hearing the quantum of sentence, the 49-year-old star, known for beloved Hindi films ranging from 'Maine Pyaar Kiya' (1989) to 'Dabangg' (2010), sat down and broke into tears.
Read: Hit-And-Run Case: What Happened Inside The Courtroom
In the incident that took place on September 28, 2002, Nurullah Mehboob Sharif, a pavement dweller, lost his life after being run over by Khan's Toyota Land Cruiser. Additional sessions judge DW Deshpande said that it was "not probable" that the car was being driven by Ashok Singh, his driver, who recently took responsibility for the accident.
Read: Timeline: Everything We Know About The Salman Khan Hit-And-Run Case
He has been charged and found guilty under the following sections:
Under the Indian Penal Code:
- Section 304 part II (culpable homicide not amounting to murder)
- Section 279 (rash and negligent driving)
- Sections 337 and 338 (causing hurt by act endangering life and causing grievous hurt respectively)
- Section 427 (mischief causing damage to property)
Under the Motor Vehicle Act:
- Sections 34 (a), (b) read with 181 (driving vehicle in contravention with rules), and 185 (driving at great speed after consuming alcohol)
Under Bombay Prohibition Act:
- Driving under the influence of alcohol
Also, according to a tweet by a senior Hindustan Times editor, the judge noted that Khan didn't even have a driver's license.
Salman Khan did not even have a driving licence: Judge #SalmanVerdict
— Sonal Kalra (@sonalkalra) May 6, 2015
Earlier, ANI tweeted that Khan's lawyer Shrikant Shivade had pleaded the judge for a maximum sentence of 2 years and a fine, keeping in mind the actor's humanitarian work.
Shivade also reportedly asked for the reduced sentence citing the judgement delivered to previous such cases, such as the Alistair Pereira case and the 1999 BMW hit-and-run case.
Salman Khan's lawyer pleads with judge for max sentence of 2yrs & a fine, keeping in mind Salman Khan's humanitarian work #SalmanVerdict
— ANI (@ANI_news) May 6, 2015
Salman Khan's lawyer Shrikant Shivade cites Alistair Pereira& BMW hit and run Nanda case for reduced sentence (2yrs) #SalmanVerdict
— ANI (@ANI_news) May 6, 2015
Public prosecutor Pradeep Gharat asked the court that Khan be given the maximum punishment of 10 years.
Public prosecutor Pradeep Gharat asks judge to give maximum punishment of 10yrs to Salman Khan #SalmanVerdict
— ANI (@ANI_news) May 6, 2015
Meanwhile, Khan's lawyers cited a brain and heart condition that the actor is suffering from as grounds for reducing his sentence.
Salman Khan has heart trouble. Pain in the heart. Medical certificate produced in court. #Breaking on @HeadlinesToday
— GAURAV C SAWANT (@gauravcsawant) May 6, 2015
This is Salman Khan's medical certificate revealing heart condition
http://t.co/sGu5EJXjrS #SalmanVerdict pic.twitter.com/RjeYleI5dU
— India Today (@IndiaToday) May 6, 2015
According to reports by PTI and ANI, the actor and brother Sohail were in tears after the verdict.
His driver Singh faced perjury charges for saying he was at the wheel instead of the actor when the accident occurred, said Times Now. However, reports later confirmed that the perjury application filed by the prosecution was dismissed and
Sections of the media and police reportedly got into a scuffle outside the courtroom, after the verdict was delivered.
Media and police have now started physically assaulting each other outside courtroom 52 #SalmanVerdict
— ANI (@ANI_news) May 6, 2015
Read: Salman Khan Denies Driving Car, Consuming Alcohol
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