World

Salman Khan sentenced to five years in prison in hit-and-run case

Mumbai High Court has granted a two-day bail

Afp/web Desk May 06, 2015

The Kick star in 2002 drove over homeless people and fled the scene, final decision to be heard on Thursday. PHOTO: AFP

MUMBAI: As proceedings commenced in a Mumbai sessions court on Wednesday, the judge announced a five-year sentence in Salman Khan's hit-and-run case which found him guilty of culpable homicide, with just a two-day bail granted by Mumbai's High Court, Express News reported.

With eight charges against Khan, including culpable homicide and a non-bailable offence, the court earlier deemed him guilty and has sentenced him to five years in prison.

Poll

[poll id="1437"]

Salman's lawyers prepared his bail appeal and the high court has granted a two-day bail for the time being.

Breaking: High Court will hear bail application plea for @BeingSalmanKhan today at 4 pm
— Faridoon Shahryar (@iFaridoon) May 6, 2015

A senior lawyer who was in attendance of the proceedings expressed her satisfaction at the decision.

As the decision was announced, Salman was said to have broken down in court.

PHOTO: TWITTER

"Justice has been served," she said after the decision was ruled.

"People thought India was a country where if you have money, you can get away with murder. However, today's decision has proven otherwise," she concluded.

Preparations are underway and Khan will be shifted to a local prison in a van.

PHOTO: THE INDIAN EXPRESS

It was further reported that Khan would be taken to JJ Hospital where a routine medical check-up would be conducted.

Acc to reliable sources Salman will be taken to JJ Hospital for routine medical check up soon...
— Faridoon Shahryar (@iFaridoon) May 6, 2015

Prior to the announcement of the decision, Khan's lawyers, according to India Today presented in court a medical certificate which revealed that he suffers from a heart condition.

Additional Sessions Judge DW Deshpande delivered the verdict and stated that "You were driving the car." He added that Salman was under the influence of alcohol and behind the wheels without a licence and that all charges stood proven according to The Indian Express.

"What do you have to say? Maximum sentence of 10 years?" Deshpande questioned, to which Salman responded "You are the judge; whatever you say is correct."

As the verdict was revealed, one of the victim's in the case--Abdullah Shaikh-- said that punishing Salman would be of no use when he spoke to NDTV.

PHOTO: AFP

"We want compensation but don't want him (Salman Khan) punished. Even if he gets some punishment, it won't give back our 13 years," said Shaikh, who lost his leg.

Twitterati revealed that Salman had tears in his eyes as the judge announced the verdict.

As the Judge announced the verdict in the hit n run case,Salman had tears in his eyes..
— Faridoon Shahryar (@iFaridoon) May 6, 2015

Accused of losing control of his SUV following a night of drinking rum and cocktails, the Kick star in 2002 drove over homeless people and fled the scene.

Read: I am Hindu and Muslim: Salman Khan

It was later revealed that his misconduct behind the wheel, led to the death of one of the homeless people.

A constable attached to Khan's security detail said in his statement to police that the drunk actor lost control of the car while driving at about 90 kilometres an hour.

"The people were sleeping on the footpath. Salman and (his cousin) Kamaal ran away from the spot," the constable, who died in 2007 of tuberculosis, said.

Ahead of the verdict. PHOTO: INDIA TODAY

One of the sleeping labourers injured in the accident said in his statement that "Salman was so drunk he fell. He stood but he fell again and then he... ran away."

Salman with his family before heading to court. PHOTO: BOLLYWOOD LIFE

After years of court hearings and legal hold-ups, the final verdict decided that the 49-year-old actor is guilty.

Industry expert Amod Mehra had earlier informed that there was no panic in the industry as Indian laws pave way for bail and that "nobody can imagine Salman lodged behind bars."

Read: Undeterred by legal troubles, Salman Khan continues to help the needy

The guilty verdict and a possible ten year sentence would result in an impact of over Rs200 crore to the industry.

PHOTO: AFP

Mandhana Industries shares already fell 3.6 per cent following the verdict, while Eros International shares fell by 4 per cent.

The body-building actor is however, no stranger to controversy off screen and in 1998 he spent more than a week in prison for killing endangered Indian gazelles.

Read: Salman Khan faces hit-and-run case verdict

Sources revealed that Salman Khan was paid a visit by Shahrukh Khan a day prior to the judgement where he offered his best wishes ahead of the verdict.

#SalmanVerdict @iamsrk visits @BeingSalmanKhan before court's verdict in hit-and-run casehttp://t.co/2g6Ol2Te6R pic.twitter.com/gxQmQ8znQA
— IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) May 6, 2015

Shahrukh Khan went to visit Salman Khan a day before the verdict. PHOTO: MISS MALINI

Twitter reacts

Before Khan departed for the sessions court in Mumbai, many had taken to social media making #IStandWithSalman a new trend on Twitter.

Members of the film fraternity, Salman's fans and people across the world are sharing their views about the sentence across social media.

If God really exists,nothing will happen to Salman sir... #IStandWithSalman
— Amarpreet Singh | Fitness Coach (@coachamarpreet) May 5, 2015

I wish he will be safe from his all cases
And his great work through his @bebeinghuman foundation will be helping others..#IStandWithSalman
— ...ღ...TIGER...ღ... (@ArshMairaj) May 5, 2015

Seen at Salman Khan’s residence in Mumbai #SalmanVerdict pic.twitter.com/90D38Lo72s
— ANI (@ANI) May 6, 2015

Of course Salman Khan is innocent. He wasn't driving the car *and* he had only drunk water in the bar anyway. http://t.co/SucnfSYXT8
— naresh fernandes (@tajmahalfoxtrot) May 6, 2015

#SalmanVerdict - @BeingSalmanKhan leaves for Mumbai Sessions Cort. Salman Hit and Run decision expected today
— Kirandeep Bhatia (@raydeep) May 6, 2015

Mumbai: Tamil groups protest outside Sessions Court #SalmanVerdict pic.twitter.com/sdFimB1GsK
— ANI (@ANI) May 6, 2015

#iStandWithSalman coz so what if he killed a few poor ppl, he is a superstar & #bhairoxx
— सत्यजीत दास (@satyajitdas84) May 6, 2015

Salman is a gr8 acror and bollywood needs him... #WeLoveYouSalman #IstandWithSalman
— SKT (@SunilCh_4U) May 6, 2015

https://twitter.com/HarsZaya/status/595817532600262656

Mumbai: Salman khan leaves for Sessions Court #SalmanVerdict pic.twitter.com/H0AgAgfz8m
— ANI (@ANI) May 6, 2015

Varanasi: People offer prayers for Salman Khan #SalmanVerdict pic.twitter.com/UOe03kl00f
— ANI (@ANI) May 6, 2015

https://twitter.com/BeingSwathi/status/595805633972203521

So what happened to #SalmanVerdict? Hope @BeingSalmanKhan comes back. Or I will boycott #BiggBoss and all Indian shows
— Marvi Sirmed (@marvisirmed) May 6, 2015

In support of her brother, Arpita Khan Sharma expressed her sympathies on the verdict.

Today is a big day for us & we know we are not alone.Thank you for your Dua's , love & support always. God bless !
— Arpita Khan Sharma (@khanarpita) May 6, 2015

A more comedic reaction

And even with salman and sanjay in jail, we are still winning 'hotter qaidi contest'. Trolol indians #AyyanAli
— Amirr (@ammirrr) May 6, 2015

If you must #StandBySalman make sure you aren't on the pavement.
— Moon (@moonsez) May 6, 2015

https://twitter.com/PedestrianPoet/status/595845519177572352

salman and sanjay be making chal mere bhai 2
— s (@himforansom) May 6, 2015

COMMENTS (49)

Hassan | 8 years ago | Reply @Deepak: hahaha...you are comparing footpath with clifton??? see this cost of living in karachi is way too good and affordable... the people of Pakistan in general are well off as compared to india...stars like salman khan lives in an apartment..i have my own 400sq yard house...its disgusting to pay the amount for a footpath that is equals to clifton property...i mean r u really proud of that???? or ur brain checkup is due???

Deepak | 8 years ago | Reply @Someone, I think you are very modest when you said 90%. It must be like 95-99%! Rates in Dharawi are comparable to Clifton, Karachi. Anyways, I hope Pakistan rapidly develops.

VIEW MORE COMMENTS

Appan | 8 years ago | Reply @Question: and Salman's mother is a Hindu. Salman himself said "I am Hindu and Muslim". Harsh sentence is because of a. Rash driving b. Drunk driving c. Killing an individual d. Driving without a licence. He is free to appeal

Bewildered | 8 years ago | Reply A similar hit & run incident happened in 1993 with Raj Kumar's son, Poru Raj Kumar, in which 2 people sleeping on footpath died, one was permanently incapacitated, and 2 got injured (all perhaps Muslims). Interestingly, he was not sent to jail for a single day, but was only fined Rs.100,000. The Bombay Police didn't even charge him for manslaughter and crushing people. So, what do get?

Aimnov | 8 years ago | Reply Salmans famous in Pakistan & Tribune is in India, No wonder!

ask | 8 years ago | Reply @Bewildered: Not to belabour any point but just so long as you recall that in this instance both perpetrator & victims are Muslims.

Bewildered | 8 years ago | Reply Modi, Advani, and other Hindu leaders of RSS, VHP, Sangh Parivar, and Congress responsible for the massacres and gang rapes of tens of thousands of Sikhs and Muslims of Delhi, Gujarat, Bombay, and Ayodhaya were given clean chits by these Indian courts. One wonders what happens to Indian justice system when the offenders are Hindu and the victims belong to some minority.

Kolsat | 8 years ago | Reply While the verdict on Salman Khan proves once again that in India no one is above law and that law eventually catches you. However I must protest at the slow moving Indian courts. It has taken the court to give verdict 13 years after the event took place. After such a long time I doubt the veracity of the witnesses' memory. Furthermore the Bollywood's producers must be distraught because hundreds of crores of rupees are tied up in the movies being produced with Salman as the hero.

vk | 8 years ago | Reply @Shahzad ali Check the people who died under his car. They were also muslim. Were they less muslim than S. Khan?? Which part of the world you live man. Bringing religion in everything is reason of where we are now.

Avtar | 8 years ago | Reply Celebs have to pay for their misdeeds. Salman can give company to Sanjay Dutt. Pakistan can learn a lesson that Celebs are not above law at least in India.

i for | 8 years ago | Reply @Bairooni Haath: You fool...google the name of dead victim and person who lost his leg...then apply some brain and then comment

Weirdity | 8 years ago | Reply "Salman had tears in his eyes" Were those tears for the victim who died or for himself? I am guessing it's for the later.

Shahzad ali | 8 years ago | Reply India is a strange country. 5 years verdict to a Muslim for running over a homeless man seems justified to all. But a hindu responsible for massacring 2000 Muslims in Gujrat gets to become a prime minister of the same country. I don't know if this is justice. Thank God we have separated from such hypocrites who punish the Muslims for their crimes (which they should) but on the same hand reward their own kind for committing crimes of similar nature or even more heinous (which they shouldn't).

Saif | 8 years ago | Reply @Bairooni Haath: minorities?...he is half Hindu , his mother is a Hindu !

tanisha | 8 years ago | Reply salman sir is the world wide famous actor..he too represent India nd Bollywood to the othr countries..evn this cnt b ignored thd he is vry kind hearted and helpibg nature celebrity... if he is put behind bars it is like other country ppl wil think this is the dirty politics of Indian govt.(respectively) yes no offense on the verdict of govt but this is not acceptable :(

Babloo | 8 years ago | Reply Salman Khan's sentence for killing by drunken driving is similar and equal to Salman Butt's sentencing for spot-fixing. He deserved a stiffer sentence , mainly because of the money and muscle he used to obstruct justice for so long.

awais | 8 years ago | Reply Most of the tweets are shameful, He killed a human being while driving drunk. And he has been jailed just for 5 years. Justice has not been served.

dada | 8 years ago | Reply Who won and who lost? The bollywood House (Den) never looses and also the daaru bhatti never looses. You will never get a movie on bad effects of drinking, smoking or drugs. Because the crooks and criminals who fund bollywood are in this business. Judge should have given a verdict on making a movie on drinking, driving under the influence of alcohol, driving without license, lying under oath in the court, bribing officials and politicians, delaying justice and court proceedings, etc. Salman need to act in the movie. It will be a "reality show." Desis who took Mongolian Khan as last name still think that they are entitled to kill natives under the influece of alcohol or drugs like babar or jahangir did.

Ch. Allah Daad | 8 years ago | Reply No sympathy for Salman. He should have got maximum sentence. He killed homeless people and obstructed justice for so many years.

Pervert Caretti | 8 years ago | Reply Kudos to Indian Court and Judge for upholding the "Equal Justice for all". Unlike in UASS Racist Courts and Crook Judges decides the case based on color, race, national origin and religion by circumventing the "Due Process of the Law"

Whiskey Khan | 8 years ago | Reply Pakistan justice should take a lesson from our neighbour. It shames me to see people of influence commit open murder and are treated like Heros. Example Jatoi son, Qadri etc.

Shakeel | 8 years ago | Reply lol at all thos epeople defending him. He ran over homeless PEOPLE.

Brain | 8 years ago | Reply I congratulate to indians for their fair and independent judiciary system where the law is upheld. Also congratulations to them that their culture has permeated extensively in our society and people are very much concerned about this news. See our tv channels, news, breaking news etc.

TheOnlyOne | 8 years ago | Reply 5 years only? He murdered someone! @someone: Do you also live on the footpaths of Mumbai?

namaloom admi | 8 years ago | Reply Good decision by court,law is same for every one....bye bye salman khan u deserve it ;)

ahmed wani | 8 years ago | Reply front page news in pakistani newspaper..pakistanis are too much obsessed with bollywood..more than indians..it seems

Haroon | 8 years ago | Reply @TiffinBox: yes, we love you. Why did it take you such a long time to figure that out ;)

Frank | 8 years ago | Reply He is lucky to get only five years. He'll probably be out before than to restart his career. It's good to see being rich and influential didn't allow him to get away with his crime. Another domain where India is ahead of us.

waqas Sajid | 8 years ago | Reply dear web desk, u could have composed at least 5 informative news, the way you have comprehensively explained this using images/twitter etc.

Stranger | 8 years ago | Reply The bugger deserves it .

TiffinBox | 8 years ago | Reply @Hassan and SamSal, hope the next time you explain people the point of "comments", when you see some saying "Why do Indian comment here".

indian | 8 years ago | Reply @goggi (Lahore): Look who is talking...! Even school kids are not safe in Pakistan!

Fazal | 8 years ago | Reply @ Bairooni Haath and goggi : Please remember all the victims were Muslims ..so its a juctice for poor and poor muslims.

someone | 8 years ago | Reply @goggi (Lahore): Majority of Indians live in villages and not on footpath. However, the amount the footpath dwellers have to pay to sleep there is probably out of reach for 70% Pakistanis. You see, I don't think 90% of Pakistanis can afford a shabby little hut in Mumbai's Dharawi.

SamSal | 8 years ago | Reply @TiffinBox That's precisely the point of 'news'. It has to be timely!

bash gul | 8 years ago | Reply The industry is worried about the 200 crores loss, but what about the victims? And he is not a minority as he admitted being both a Hindu and Muslim.

Temur | 8 years ago | Reply @Bairoone Haath Yes, thank you for Pakistan where the sons of big landlords, army generals and politicians can kill as many poor people as they want and nobody can bring them to justice.

goggi (Lahore) | 8 years ago | Reply Victory for the Indian majority...................the footpath dwellers!

someone | 8 years ago | Reply 12 years in session court. Now he will get bail and will go to High court and unless High Court squashed his appeal, which is highly unlikely,the case would go for another 12 years. By that time,victim's family would give up. Justice delayed is Justice denied.

Zafar | 8 years ago | Reply Bye Bye Big Boss!!!

Numan Rangrezz | 8 years ago | Reply Salman Khan should be executed

Hassan | 8 years ago | Reply @TiffinBox: So is this bad or u a r actually appreciating us for that..by the way a newspaper is a newspaper the efficiency is the requirement is this filed...u need to break the news as soon as u get it..u need to follow events...

Joe | 8 years ago | Reply @Shoaib: Yes in India.

Bairooni Haath | 8 years ago | Reply Thank you Quaid E Azam for giving us a separate country........see how India is treating its minorities.

Question | 8 years ago | Reply Before we gets silly comments like salman is persecuted by law because he is muslim, please remember the victim who were killed and injured were muslims too. Spare a thought for them.

lol | 8 years ago | Reply "If God really exists,nothing will happen to Salman sir... IStandWithSalman" -- HEY, GUESS WHAT? :))

ilyas | 8 years ago | Reply Until and unless these people from elite class are made to pay for their crimes there will no real sense of safety and security in this part of the world. While they often talk about poor, they just as often consider them a menace, a pain in the neck, an stigma. I hope Pakistani courts will serve the justice as it is supposed to be served.

Shoaib | 8 years ago | Reply Nothing is above the law...

TiffinBox | 8 years ago | Reply And they say why Indians comment here .... Gosh!! It's been only 15 minutes when the verdict came and its already a news on tribune. You guys love us.

Replying to X