The Supreme Court on Tuesday admitted the Maharashtra government’s appeal against the Bombay High Court order that acquitted actor Salman Khan of all charges in a 2002 hit-and-run case. However, the apex court bench headed by Justice Khehar dismissed the demand for a fast-track hearing, saying the state should approach the chief justice for it, ANI reported.
On behalf of the state government, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi had urged the top court for a fast-track hearing of the case. The Maharashtra government had challenged the high court verdict acquitting Khan in the case in which the actor’s SUV had run over people sleeping on a pavement in a Mumbai suburb in 2002. One person was killed in the incident.
The Bollywood star’s lawyer Kapil Sibal informed the Supreme Court on Tuesday that Khan wanted it to hear the case against him on merit. “The honourable Supreme Court had on the last date asked us whether Salman would consent to the Supreme Court hearing the case on merits,” Khan’s lawyer Anand Desai told IANS.
Sibal, who had represented Khan earlier, had earlier told the Supreme Court there was no evidence to prove that the actor was behind the wheel during the incident. However, Rohatgi had argued that several people at the accident spot had seen Khan in the driver’s seat.
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!