The Mumbai sessions court hearing the 2002 hit-and-run case involving actor Salman Khan will decide the date of judgment on Tuesday.
Mr. Khan’s lawyer Shrikant Shivade on Monday moved a contempt petition against a section of the media and police inspector Rajendra Kane in connection with a news report on the incident, which sought to harm the defence's case, he said.
Surprisingly, in a similar move, the prosecution too moved the court seeking notices against Mr. Kane and two publications for publishing reports on the reconstruction of the incident.
"It is a very serious matter and may affect the case," special public prosecutor Pradeep Gharat told the court.
The court will decide on both the petitions on Tuesday.
Concluding his final arguments in the case, Mr. Khan’s lawyer said his client was “branded as an accused from day one” and that the incident was “a pure case of accident.”
He argued that the defence did not get the opportunity to cross-examine constable Ravindra Patil, Mr. Khan’s police bodyguard, an eye-witness who died during the course of the trail.
Mr. Khan had earlier faced the charge of causing death by negligence under section 304-A of the Indian Penal Code. This charge was enhanced in 2013 to 304 II of IPC (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), leading to a retrial of the case.
