After the hit and run accident in September 2002, actor Salman Khan was not traceable, and was nabbed only after a tip off, police told the court here on Friday. The main investigating officer of the case, Kishan Shengal, also told the court that he charged Salman Khan for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, a few days after he took over the investigation.
“After the FIR (First Information Report), I went to his house, but did not find him there. I also went to the gym behind his house, the six-seven garages there. I did not find Salman. I informed my seniors accordingly,” Kishan Shengal, the Investigating Officer who took over the probe on the second day after the accident, told Sessions Judge D W Deshpande.
He said that on the morning of September 28, at around 9 am, he received a tip-off about Salman. “I received information that the accused is likely to visit a lawyer’s house in Almeida Park in Bandra West,” he said. Since the police team did not know the address of the lawyer, it searched for it for nearly two hours. “When we went to the advocate’s house, we found Salman there and brought him to the police station. He was arrested thereafter,” he said.
After the actor was arrested, he was sent for medical examination. But the first hospital where he was taken, did not have any facility to collect blood samples. Thus, he was taken to J J Hospital from there.
“After arresting Salman, we informed his relative, and sent him to Bhabha hospital for medical examination. There, the doctors informed our constable that the hospital did not have any facility to collect blood samples. So Salman was sent to J J Hospital at 1.30 pm that day,” Mr Shengal said.
He said he sent Salman’s blood sample for chemical analysis on September 30, 2002.
Salman was soon released on bail, but was rearrested within 10 days. The re-arrest took place after fresh charges were slapped against the actor after probe.
“On October 7, I added Section 302 part II (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) (against Salman), and informed the court about it,” Mr Shengal said. He immediately went on to proceed to arrest the actor.
The missing tag
The tag which was generated by J W Marriot parking lot staff, after Salman parked his vehicle on the night on September 27, 2002, has not been submitted to the court. Mr Shengal said that he had, during his visit to the hotel, seized the tag, and attached it to the evidence. But it was never submitted to the court.
Salman got back his Land Cruiser for Rs 15 lakh bond
During his deposition, Mr Shengal also told the court that Salman Khan was given back the Land Cruiser involved in the accident, on a bond of Rs 15 Lakh. The metropolitan court had directed the transfer after the actor had moved an application for the same. The Land Cruiser was given back to Salman in the year 2004.
Earlier in the day, the first investigating officer of the case, Rajendra Kadam was cross-questioned by Salman’s lawyer Shrikant Shivade. During the cross-examination, Mr Kadam told the court that the air bags inside the Land Cruiser were not seen to be inflated when he had visited the spot soon after the accident. He also said there was no blood stain on the bed-sheets and pillows which were seen stuck under the car when it had rammed the bakery.
The court will continue recording the statement of Mr Shengal on March 17. The actor will not remain present during the next hearing.
The court is also likely to record Salman's statement on March 23 or 24, if the evidence recording concludes before that.
