Sessions judge D.W. Deshpande on Wednesday convicted Bollywood actor Salman Khan on other counts in addition to five years RI for culpable homicide. The court sentenced him to one year's imprisonment under section 338 of IPC and three months under section 337 for causing grievous hurt. Furthermore, he was sentenced to two, six and two months simultaneously under sections 134 read with 187, 185 and 3 (1) read with 181 of the Motor Vehicles Act. He also has to pay a total fine of Rs. 29,000. Khan was found guilty under the Bombay Prohibition Act under section 66 (a) and (b) for which he received two months imprisonment and fine of Rs 500. All sentences will run concurrently.
Appeal Khan’s lawyers immediately moved the High Court challenging the lower court's judgement. “We are seeking suspension of sentence. The hearing on the appeal is on Friday,” defence lawyer Shrikant Shivade said.
Following the bail order, a relieved Khan was seen smiling, waving to onlookers from the courtroom window and interacting with ease with his family. He left the court after 7 p.m. after completing the bail formalities.
The courtroom let out a shocked cry after hearing the quantum of the sentence. Khan’s defence lawyer Shrikant Shivade had argued that his client’s case was on a lower footing when compared with the sensational Alistair Pereira and Sanjeev Nanda hit-and-run cases where the number of deceased persons was more and the sentences were not more than three years. He even invoked Khan’s philanthropic activities to argue that a harsher punishment would not serve the humanitarian purpose. The actor’s Being Human Foundation has conducted 600 surgeries and received a donation of Rs. 42 crore so far. Mr. Shivade also pointed to the actor’s “neurological condition” though the actor kept signalling vehemently to his lawyer not to argue on that ground.
The prosecution sought maximum sentence for Khan. “Salman is a celebrity. He is followed by many. So everyone should know about the repercussions of the wrongful act. Providing a deterrence thorough exemplary punishment should be the criteria,” prosecutor Pradeep Gharat told the court.
The court did not initiate any perjury proceedings against Salman’s driver Ashok Singh.
