John Abraham gets bail in rash driving case

Bollywood actor John Abraham was taken into police custody today in a six-year-old rash driving case but within hours got relief when the Bombay High Court granted him bail.

The 39-year-old actor was in police custody after a sessions court dismissed his plea against the 15-day imprisonment awarded to him in the case of rash driving here in 2006 in which two men were injured.

"Considering the fact that the victims suffered only simple injuries and the accused has been on bail throughout, he (John) may be released on bail," Justice RC Chavan said ordering the release of the actor and suspending his sentence.

Abraham was asked to deposit Rs20,000 to secure bail.

The actor's counsel Abad Ponda earlier said no negligence or rashness in driving was shown by Abraham and the injuries to the two victims were simple in nature. He said the actor had himself taken the victims to the hospital after the accident.

When the judge asked if Abraham had tried to settle the matter with the injured, his lawyer said attempts to sort out the issue failed to fructify.

"Since the accused is a celebrity, such matters get publicised and hence a settlement could not be worked out," Ponda said.

The Sessions Court earlier in the day dismissed Abraham's plea challenging the 15-day simple imprisonment awarded to him by the trial court.

Upholding his conviction, Sessions Judge NV Navkhar ordered his detention, following which he was taken into police custody. The court also rejected the actor's plea seeking time to surrender before the trial court following which he quickly moved the High Court for relief.

On October 14, 2010, the Metropolitan Magistrate Court at Bandra had convicted Abraham in the case of rash driving in which two persons were injured and sentenced him to a 15-day jail term. He was, however, granted bail the same day.

A fortnight later, the model-actor filed an appeal in the Sessions Court against the conviction. His appeal stated that "judge has misconstrued and has, without applying the principles relating to the acts of rashness and criminal negligence, convicted the applicant (John)".

The incident occurred on April 8, 2006, when Abraham rammed his Yamaha Hayabusa motorcycle into a bicycle on Carter Road in suburban Bandra, injuring two people, Shyam Kasbe (22) and Tanmay Majhi (19).