Troubles are not yet over for Bollywood’s heartthrob.
By Sreejith Vallikunnu
The Maharashtra government has decided to move a plea in the Supreme Court against Bollywood actor Salman Khan’s acquittal in connection with the 2002 hit-and-run case.
The decision came two days after Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis revealed that the state government will study the verdict and then take a decision to challenge it.
“Government is studying the verdict and the state will take a decision,” Fadnavis had told reporters on Monday.
On December 10, the Bombay High Court acquitted the actor and revoked his imprisonment.
While acquitting the actor, the Bombay High Court had observed that the prosecution failed to prove beyond doubt that Salman was driving the ill-fated Toyota Land Cruiser or he was under the influence of alcohol when the vehicle rammed into people who were sleeping on the pavement.
The court also observed that “strong suspicion of guilt cannot be used to hold a person guilty”.
Salman Khan was inside the Land Cruiser when it rammed into the pavement, killing one person and injuring four. The judge also noted that the prosecution has failed to prove that the incident didn’t happen due to the bursting of a tire.
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court had rejected a petition demanding the cancellation of bail granted by the Bombay High Court to Salman. The petition was filed by Sushila Himmatrao Patil, who is the mother of police constable Ravinder Patil, who was the bodyguard of Khan when the incident happened. Ravinder Patil died in 2007.