Hit-and-run: Convicted John Abraham goes on probation

Bollywood actor John Abraham can finally breathe a sigh of relief. For, he will not spend any time behind bars.

The Bombay high court on Monday upheld the 15-day imprisonment awarded to Abraham for a 2006 rash and negligent driving case in which two persons were injured, but took a lenient view considering that the actor had not been involved in similar incidents in the past.

Abraham was released under the Probation of Offenders Act, after being ordered to pay a bond of Rs 10,000.

“It is the responsibility of the driver to see to it that the vehicle is under his control at all times so as to avoid such sudden accidents. Hence, it cannot be said that the lower court’s order of conviction was incorrect. There is no ground made out to set aside the conviction,” observed justice RC Chavan. “The applicant can be given the benefit of the Probation of Offenders Act, and can be released on probation after furnishing a bond of Rs 10,000,” Chavan added.

A victim and a family member of the second had filed affidavits stating that they had no objection to Abraham’s conviction being quashed, as they have reached a settlement.

Justice Chavan, however, said that the case could not be quashed at this stage, since his conviction by a metropolitan court had been upheld by the sessions court.

On April 8, 2006, Abraham’s motorcycle rammed into a bicycle on Carter Road in suburban Bandra, injuring two riders. He was convicted by a metropolitan magistrate on October 14, 2010, sentenced to 15 days of imprisonment and fined Rs 1,500. The sessions court upheld the conviction on March 9.