So, was Salman drunk or not?

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canada87

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Posted: 19 years ago

So, was Salman drunk or not?
By: Anand Holla
March 17, 2006

Ravindra Patil

As Salman Khan's former bodyguard Ravindra Patil's cross-examination came to an end yesterday, it was difficult to gauge which of his two statements — the first admission or the second one — was true.

Patil (29) had admitted in his supplementary statement on October 1, 2002, that the actor was drunk when he killed a pavement dweller and injured four others while driving on September 28. Yesterday, he stood by this statement during his cross-examination in court.

However, in his first statement, on the day of the accident, and an exclusive interview to MiD DAY the next day, Patil did not mention that the actor was drunk.

During the 30-minute court proceedings, Patil admitted speaking to
MiD DAY in 2002. "I had then given the interview without seeking permission from my superiors," Patil told the court.

Advocate Dipesh Mehta said, "In his accounts to MiD DAY and the FIR, Patil said Salman wanted to avoid hitting an electric pole and took a sharp turn when he rammed into a shop and killed the man. Neither does Patil talk about the actor being drunk nor does he mention telling him to drive carefully.

Public prosecutor G G Nagrale said, "We objected to the MiD DAY article being mentioned in court as a part of police investigation."

When asked how he felt after the end of his court ordeal, a tired Patil said, "Please don't ask me anything. Bahut ho gaya yaar."

Patil's supplementary statement

When Salman came out of Rain Bar with Kamal Khan, I noticed that he was drunk. After he began driving rashly, I told him, "Aap gaadi tez mat chalao." I pleaded with him repeatedly to slow down but he ignored me.

Moments before the accident occurred at Hill Road junction, I told him to slow down again as anything could happen. But he did not listen and rammed into the American Express Bakery.