MUMBAI: Indian session court has awarded five years prison to Bollywood’s mega-star Salman Khan after he has been found guilty of drunkenly driving over men sleeping on a pavement in Mumbai 13 years ago. One man had died and four were injured. He is charged with culpable homicide, which carries a jail term of up to 10 years.
Khan, broke down on hearing the verdict and witnesses said there were tears in his eyes. Khan’s family members too were upset and his two sisters also broke down in the courtroom.
While convicting Khan, sessions court judge DW Deshpande said all the charges against the star, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder, had been proved.
The judge said 49-year-old Khan was driving the car at the time of the accident and the defence’s contention that his driver Ashok Singh was at the wheel was not probable.
He was held guilty of all eight charges in the 2002 hit-and-run case.
The court ordered police to take Salman Khan into his custody immediately and police will take him to Arthur Road Central Jail.
Khan has the option to appeal in the Bombay High court against the sessions court’s verdict.
“It has been proved that Salman Khan was driving the car under influence of alcohol,” judge said while adding that he has been found guilty of all charges pertaining to 2002 hit-and-run case.
Family members of Salman Khan were also present in the court hearing amid strict security. A big number of his fans also gathered outside the court premises.
