Bombay high court extends relief for Salman Khan on TV programme

The Bombay high court on Monday extended the relief granted to actor Salman Khan by restraining a private news channel from airing a programme on the hit-and-run case in which he is facing trial.

Judge SC Gupte was hearing an application filed by the actor, claiming that the contents of the programme were defamatory and that they sought to "dramatise and sensationalise" the case.

The judge also restrained the news channel from publishing the contents on its website.

The programme was first telecast on May 21 and the contents were submitted to the high court in a CD. Salman's counsels argued that the allegations would influence and prejudice the outcome of the case.

The judge had stayed telecast of the programme on May 30 and this has been extended till further orders. The case was adjourned till June 16.

The news channel was served a notice, but no one appeared on behalf of the channel in court.

The judge observed that "the interest of justice would be served if the plaintiff (Salman) was asked to renew his application on June 2 with a fresh notice to the defendants."

Salman is facing prosecution in the 2002 case in which it is alleged that he ran over a group of people sleeping on a pavement in Bandra. One person died and four were injured in the accident.