Summary The court announced the verdict after the prosecution failed to establish the case against the actor
MUMBAI (Web Desk/ AFP) – Bollywood actor Salman Khan was acquitted of all charges by The Bombay High Court on Thursday in the 2002 hit-and-run case after he filed an appeal against his conviction.
The Bombay High Court said a lower court had erred in finding Khan guilty of culpable homicide at the end of his trial in May, when he was subsequently sentenced to five years in prison.
"The appeal is allowed and the decision of the trial court is quashed and set aside. Salman Khan is acquitted of all charges," judge Anil Ramchandra Joshi told the Bombay High Court.
Khan, one of the Indian movie industry s biggest box-office draws, broke down in tears and supporters in the gallery let out hushed cheers as the verdict was delivered.
Salman Khan appeared in the court for pronouncement of judgement in his appeal. The judge announced the verdict after the prosecution failed to establish the case against the actor.
While dictating the verdict, the judge stated that the actor cannot be convicted on basis of evidence submitted.
"The law has no place for opinion of the public," the court said today.
According to Indian media, the court also observed that appreciation of evidence by trial court is not proper according to principles of jurisprudence. There has been a faulty manner to establish procedure for connecting chain of evidence with regard to biological evidence, the court added.
Read More: Bollywood superstar Salman Khan jailed for five years
The court added that Ravindra Patil, who was Salman’s bodyguard when the incident happened, was a ‘wholly unreliable witness.’ Patil later died in 2007.
Long 13 years
Amit Desai, Khan s lawyer, told reporters that it "had been a long 13 years".
"As far as my client is concerned it s a great relief. We are very glad of the outcome," he said.
On May 6 this year, Salman Khan was convicted and sentenced to five years imprisonment on various charges, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder, in the September 28, 2002 accident in Bandra which killed one and injured four pavement dwellers.
Khan, the star of blockbusters such as "Dabangg" (Fearless), fled the scene of the crash that left labourer Nurulah Mahbob Sharif dead and several others injured, according to prosecutors.
His trial began in earnest last year after a series of court hearings and lengthy legal hold-ups.
Several prosecution witnesses, including survivors of the crash, testified that Khan was driving the vehicle when it ploughed at speed into the men sleeping on the street near a bakery in September 2002.
When Khan finally took the stand in March, he said his driver was responsible for mounting the pavement in the suburb of Bandra West.
The driver testified in court last month that he had been behind the wheel, and that the crash occurred after the front left tyre burst, making steering and braking difficult.
But the judge found Khan guilty of all charges including driving while under the influence of alcohol and without a licence.
On May 8, the Bombay High Court stayed execution of the jail term, admitted Salman’s appeal challenging the lower court verdict and granted him bail.
Khan has been out on bail throughout the trial and appeal. The case has seemingly not interfered with his career as one of Bollywood s most bankable stars, idolised by millions.
Dozens of joyous fans gathered outside his home in Mumbai s north as news of his acquittal spread, while colleagues in the Hindi film industry tweeted their delight.
"I want to thank God for this," one fan said.
Other Twitter users were less kind, suggesting there was one rule for the rich and another for the poor in India, lamenting that little attention was being given to the victim.
Khan is no stranger to controversy and spent more than a week behind bars for killing an endangered Indian gazelle in 1998.
The actor, who has never married, was also in the news for allegedly assaulting former Miss World and Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai with whom he had a long relationship.
Khan has starred in more than 100 films and television shows since his first hit "Maine Pyar Kiya" (I Fell in Love) in the 1980s.
