Salman Khan accident trial deferred to Jan 21

A Mumbai court Tuesday postponed till Jan 21 the hearing in the 2002 accident case involving Bollywood actor Salman Khan after the prosecution sought time to appeal against the retrial order in the Bombay High Court.

Public prosecutor J.V. Kendralkar informed Sessions Court Judge D.W. Deshpande that the prosecution was awaiting the state government's response in the matter and accordingly sought time.

Salman Khan's lawyer Shrikant Shivade opposed the prosecution plea and urged the fresh trial to commence immediately.

He also pleaded to the court to grant a short date to the prosecution for adjourning the case.

Judge Deshpande posted the matter for Jan 21 and directed the prosecution to get instructions from the government on the issue of appeal before the high court.

On Dec 5, the sessions court had ordered commencement of a fresh trial in the case.

The grounds for the fresh trial was that Salman Khan was not given opportunity to examine witnesses in the context of the enhanced charges of culpable homicide under Indian Penal Code Section 304(2) slapped on him midway during the trial.

Earlier, the actor was tried by a magistrate court for the lesser offence of causing death by negligence which attracts jail of up to two years.

After examining 17 witesses, the magistrate court held that the higher charge of culpable homicide was made out against Salman Khan and referred it to the sessions court.

The high-profile case dates back to Sep 28, 2002 when a SUV Toyota Land Cruiser allegedly driven by Salman Khan ran over some pavement dwellers in Bandra west, killing one and injuring four.