The Bombay High Court acquitted Bollywood star Salman Khan, in 2002 hit and run case, saying that, there are no proofs to corner the actor, in the hit and run case.   

On September 28, 2002, a labourer died and four other people were injured, after super star’s Land Cruiser rammed into a Bandra laundry and bakery.

Speaking about Salman Khan’s hit and run case, Justice AR Joshi said that, Khan cannot be convicted because the “prosecution has failed to prove the charges against Khan on all counts”.

He further asked Salman, who was with sister Alvira and manager Reshma in the court,  to furnish a fresh surety bond of Rs 25,000 and asked the police to return his passport.

Justice Joshi said that, there are several shortcomings in the investigation and prosecution’s evidence. “Doubt arises over involvement of appellant on charges… Investigation was conducted in a faulty manner with scant regard to procedure,”Joshi said.

Salman was called to the court for pronouncing the final verdict today, after he was awarded the bail, a few days ago.
   
The court said that, the prosecution even failed in proving that Salman was drunk on that day. “Salman had to rush out of the spot immediately, as there are chances for the  crowd to gather in large and corner him,” he said  

Joshi opined that, it is not possible to rely on the testimony of Ravindra Patil, the police guard, who was in the vehicle at the time of the accident. Patil died of tuberculosis in 2007.

Joshi opined that, there are numerous changes in the statements of Patil, who died of tuberculosis, during the course of trail.  

“Even if Patil’s statement has to be considered as partially reliable, there has to be corroboration in evidence which does not exist in this case,” Joshi said.

Moreover, Patil did not mention in the FIR filed, just after a few hours of accident that, Salman was drunk or not, but said so, after the arrival of Salman’s blood test reports. It was due to that, Patil’s statement lacked the confidence.  

On the other side, Salman Khan’s family driver as well as singer-friend Kamaal Khan, Ashok Singh admitted that, it was he, who drove the car that night, but the prosecution dismissed his confession as 13 years too late. Joshi even reminded about this.   

Joshi further denied the prosecution’s argument. He took a strong stand against the prosecution, for its failure to examine Kamaal Khan, who was in the country, till 2007, before he settled abroad.

Finally, as there are none of the proofs fund to corner Salman Khan, Justice Joshi acquitted Salman in hit and run case.

Meanwhile, upon knowing the judgment, Salman fans gathered in large crowd at his house and are celebrating the occasion.  

By Phani Ch