Bollywood superstar Salman Khan was on Wednesday sentenced to five years in jail by a Mumbai sessions court
Bollywood superstar Salman Khan was on Wednesday handed out a five-year jail term by a Mumbai sessions court after being found guilty of all charges in the 2002 hit-and-run case.
Delivering the verdict in the case that dragged on for over 12 years, sessions court judge DW Deshpande said "all charges" against the actor have been proved, which included the stringent charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, besides various other offences, including rash and negligent driving and driving under influence of liquor.
The judge held that the actor also did not have a driving licence. The prosecution had alleged that Khan was driving without holding a licence and, to buttress its charge, produced RTO records to show that the actor had procured a licence only in 2004, two years after the tragedy.
The court, while pronouncing the judgement, drew parallels with the Alistair Pereira and Sanjeev Nanda BMW cases.
Asked if he (Salman) had to say anything about the verdict, Salman, who fought back tears, denied the charge that he was driving the vehicle at the time of the accident.
Meanwhile, Salman Khan, however, cannot apply for a bail in the session court and will have to approach High Court. But the Bombay High Court goes to vacation from May 9th, and therefore, he may be in for a long haul.
No new fine was imposed on Salman as he had already paid the amount of Rs 19 lakhs, as per the High Court's direction.
While the Judge DW Deshpande sentenced Salman, his head was tilted down and had no expression on his face nor tears.
Also read: 2002 hit-and-run case verdict live coverage
Salman Khan's lawyer had pleaded with judge for maximum sentence of 2 years and a fine, keeping in mind Salman Khan's humanitarian work.
The defence while arguing on the quantum of sentence had claimed that there is death of only one man in the case, while in other cases of rash and negligent driving, there were deaths of more than five men.
Salman has been booked under Section 304 A of the Indian Penal Code (rash and negligent driving); 279 (rash driving); 337 (causing minor injuries); 338 (causing major injuries) 427 (negligence) in connection with the case.
Also read: Salman Khan verdict: This is how hit-and-run case unfolded
Under Motor Vehicle Act Sections 34 (a), (b) read with 181 (driving vehicle in contravention of rules); 185 (driving at great speed after consuming alcohol).
A tight security blanket was thrown around the court when sessions judge D W Deshpande pronounces the judgement. Only the lawyers, media and the court staff were allowed to be present.
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