A megastar with huge fan following: this might be one of the reasons why Salman Khan is still out despite committing an unforgivable crime. It was 12 years ago in 2002 that he, in a drunken state drove his car over homeless sleeping men, killing one of them. He has been accused of losing control over his SUV after getting drunk at a high-end bar and driving at the speed of 90km per hour. It has been along time of 12 years that Khan is making regular visits to court, but hasn’t yet been proved guilty and as always managed to escape from going into jail with the help of legal hold-ups.
But, on Wednesday (6th May, 2015), a final verdict will be given by a judge in Mumbai court which will assert Salman’s jail statement. If it is cited in his disfavor, Dabangg Khan might go behind the bars for around the period of 10 years.
A twist in story had earlier appeared when Khan said that he was not at fault; instead it was his driver who mounted on the pavement where 5 men were sleeping outside a bakery in Bandra West. Even, his driver took the responsibility and said last month that he crashed Toyota Land Cruiser after the front left tyre burst, thus making it difficult to brake. This statement surely came as a surprise, as everyone questioned why this ‘tyre-burst’ truth didn’t come out all along these many years.
A constable who was attached to Salman’s security detail said in his statement that the actor was drunk and lost his control. The constable died in 2007 of tuberculosis, he had earlier said, “The people were sleeping on the footpath. Salman and [his cousin] Kamaal ran away from the spot.” One of the injured men who were sleeping on the street said, “Salman was so drunk he fell. He stood but he fell again and then he … ran away.”
Pradip Gharat, the public prosecutor assured that he did his best to present the case and to seek justice. “We can only hope but cannot predict a conviction,” he said on Monday, adding, “I am 100% confident that I have done my job and duty to the best of my ability.”
Counter-arguing this, Khan’s lawyers said that he had been drinking just water all the evening when that accident happened even though the actor didn`t deny that he went to the bar, but consumed nothing except water. And the reason he was seen coming out of the driver-seat was probably because the left side door was jammed.
Salman was charged under IPC Section 304(II) — culpable homicide not amounting to murder which attracts a 10-year jail sentence; Sec. 279 (rash driving); Sec. 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life of others); Sec. 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life); Sec. 427 (mischief causing damage); and under Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and Bombay Prohibition Act, 1949. Tomorrow is the verdict of Section 304 (II) – charges for culpable homicide.
On-lookers said that it was mainly because of his humongous fan base that he wasn`t punished yet, and got a chance to continue with his career. However, film critic BB Nagpal said, “If he gets a brief term, given his fan following it will be easy for him to rebound. But certainly 10 years will put a full stop on his career.” Tomorrow’s verdict is going to decide the destiny of Salman’s career; it will either bring smile to his fans` faces or will give justice to victims. Or the second outcome: it will either lead to dismay of his fans or the victims will be denied of deserved justice.
Tags: hit-and-run case Salman Khan Salman Khan verdict
