dna caught up with Prosecutor Pradeep Gharat before the verdict in the Salman Khan hit and run case came. He expressed confidence that the court's verdict would go in their favour and his stance was finally vindicated.
Do you feel positive about the case?
Yes, I am positive about it. I came in the picture in September 2004, when the earlier prosecutor had already examined 12 of the total 27 witnesses. I felt that I had exhausted all legal options available to me. The entire weight of proving the case beyond reasonable doubt was on the shoulders of the prosecution... which I believe I have done.
Was introduction of a witness by the defence at the fag end of the trial legally correct?
It was lawfully incorrect... The prosecution said there's a provision in law according to which a witness can be produced at any time during trial in a case. So, stage-wise, the defence was not wrong in bringing the witness; however, the witness couldn't answer the prosecution's questions convincingly.
Will this have an adverse effect on the case?
The witness, being a common man, was unaware of the process of law. If the defence introduces a witness at any juncture in the case, then it is a fact that he has to come before court only after being instructed by the defence. This can go against the defence.
What was the difference in the prosecution's and defence's theories?
According to our case, there were only three people in the car, but according to the defence, there were four. The question is the defence never objected the prosecution's case, that there were three people in the car, during the trial. Later, it came up with the theory of the driver driving the vehicle. Thus, the entire burden of proving the case, ie whether the driver was driving the vehicle, is now completely on the shoulders of the defence.
Will the court consider the statements of Ravindra Patil, the complainant who has passed away, and Dr Sanap, who had conducted Patil's post-mortem, given that there's been no reexamination of the two?
The court had allowed the prosecution as well as the defence to argue on the statements recorded. However, the question of holding the statements eligible or not will be considered only at the time of the judgment.