Finally after 13 years, Bollywood star Salman Khan has been sentenced to five years imprisonment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder in the 2002 hit-and-run case. Salman will be taken into custody immediately at Arthur Road Jail. He will have to approach the High Court for bail. Significantly, the court held that Salman was driving under the influence of alcohol and also did not have a driving license. One person was killed and four others were injured on the night of September 28, 2002 in suburban Bandra when Salman's Toyota Land Cruiser rammed into a bakery. The victims were sleeping on the pavement when the SUV ran over them. Nurullah Mehboob Sharif was killed in the accident in which Kalim Mohammed Pathan, Munna Malai Khan, Abdullah Rauf Shaikh and Muslim Shaikh had been injured. The actor has been charged under IPC sections 304 part II (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) which attracts upto 10 years in prison; 279 (rash and negligent driving) which stipulates six months jail; 337 & 338 (causing hurt by act endangering life and causing grievous hurt respectively) with punishment up to two years, and 427 (mischief causing damage to property) with maximum punishment of upto two years. Under Motor Vehicles Act, Khan has been charged under Sections 34(a), (b) read with 181 (driving vehicle in contravention of rules) and 185 (driving at great speed after consuming alcohol). He has also been charged under provisions of Bombay Prohibition Act relating to driving under influence of alcohol which provides for maximum six months' jail.
"All charges against you are proved," said Judge DW Deshpande. As the court delivered the verdict, Salman had tears in his eyes and stood silently in the dock. After the conviction, his lawyer began arguments on quantum of punishment in the case. A tight security blanket was thrown around the court, where Salman's family including brothers Arbaaz, Sohail and sister Arpita Khan had arrived early this morning ahead of the verdict. While the prosecution had insisted that a drunk Khan was driving the Land Cruiser, the actor had claimed that it was his driver Ashok Singh who was behind the wheel. Singh has endorsed the defence's claim. The defence had also argued that police had not obtained finger prints from the steering wheel to find out who was driving the vehicle. Prosecutor Pradeep Gharat has alleged that Khan was driving the vehicle after consuming 'Bacardi rum' at a bar, a charge denied by the actor, who said he had just a glass of water. The court relied upon judgements in Alistair Pereira and Nikhil Nanda BMW case of Delhi while convicting Salman. It also asked what he had to say on the verdict to which he denied charges saying he was not driving the car at the time of mishap.
