This Article is From Mar 17, 2015

Salman Khan Hit-And-Run Case: Court to Record Actor's Statement Next Week

Salman Khan Hit-And-Run Case: Court to Record Actor's Statement Next Week

Salman faces the charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder

Mumbai:

Actor Salman Khan, in all likelihood, will have to appear in court next week to record his statement under section 313 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC). The actor is being tried for culpable homicide not amounting to murder in connection with a hit-and-run case in 2002.

The trial, which has seen huge delays, will now enter its final phase. Under section 313 of the CrPC, the accused is given a chance to explain after his evidence has been recorded in court.

The statement will be recorded after the defence completes the cross examination of a former Investigation Officer Kishan Shengal. Mr Shengal's cross examination began on Tuesday and will continue next week.

Mr Shengal told the court "Being a senior Police Inspector, I have to write a weekly diary. I have to mention what I have done in the seven days. Police Inspectors and Sub Inspectors write day to day diary about work done. The senior PI has to send copies of the diary to a senior officer. I had maintained a weekly diary. It is not necessary that a diary should be in a book form."

But the defence pointed out that as per rule 229, part 3 of the police manual, a diary had to be in a book form with its pages numbered.

The defence also submitted an application for recalling a witness, Rajendra Kadam, which the prosecution objected to. The court will announce its decision on this application next week.

Public Prosecutor Pradeep Gharat told reporters, "The defence says some questions that have not been asked to Rajendra Kadam and Ravindra Patil (deceased) were not asked probably because the accused was facing trial for a lesser charge. They want another opportunity to examine Kadam. I opposed it on the ground that the defence has had an opportunity to question them already."

The court on Tuesday took on record replies submitted by the Regional Transport Offices and the Excise Department which stated that Mr Khan did not possess a driving licence or a liquor permit at the time of the 2002 mishap. Salman's lawyer had argued that these documents should have been submitted along with the charge-sheet and not at the fag-end of the trial.

Mr. Khan was arrested after his car had rammed into a bakery in suburban Bandra in the wee hours of September 28, 2002. One person was killed and four were injured.

A fresh trial is being held after the charge of culpable homicide, which provides for imprisonment up to ten years, was invoked. Earlier, the trial was being conducted by a magistrate, where the actor was charged with rash and negligent driving, which attracts a jail term of only two years.

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