Actor Salman Khan will depose before the sessions court in Mumbai on March 27, 2015 and his statement will be recorded in the 2002 hit-and-run case. The court fixed the date of his deposition on Tuesday, as the cross examination of crucial witnesses is coming to an end.
The prosecution too will close its evidence on Wednesday.
On March 27, 2015, Mr. Khan’s statement will be recorded under Section 313 of the Criminal Procedure Code. Under this provision, the accused is examined by the court, and according to the principle of natural justice, is given an opportunity to explain about the evidence against him. The court may also seek explanation from the accused regarding the evidence.
“On Friday, he will have to answer the questions of the court,” special public prosecutor Pradeep Gharat said.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Kishan Shengal, investigating officer of the case, was cross-examined by Mr. Khan’s lawyer Shrikant Shivade. The defence alleged that the investigating officer was lying.
Mr. Shengal had earlier told the court that Mr. Khan was >arrested after a tip-off . He had said that the police teams searched at Almeida Park in Bandra and nabbed Mr. Khan from a lawyer’s house. But Mr. Khan’s lawyer bunked this statement on Tuesday.
He said that Mr. Khan had himself remained present before the Bandra police station between 9.30 a.m. and 10 a.m. on September 28, 2002, and that he was not arrested at Almeida Park.
Mr. Shivade also alleged that the police purposely did not take Mr. Khan’s blood alcohol report from Bhabha hospital. The police had earlier told the court that the actor was taken to Bhabha hospital first, which turned him away saying that it did not have the facility to conduct blood alcohol test.
On Tuesday, Mr. Shivade said that Bhabha hospital had in fact given a negative report, saying that Mr. Khan’s blood sample did not have alcohol content. Mr. Shengal denied it.
His cross examination will continue on March 25, 2015. The court is also slated to decide on the application moved by the defence seeking to recall the first investigating officer of the case again. Mr. Khan’s lawyer had moved an application last week, stating that a few more questions needed to be put to Rajendra Kadam, the first investigating officer of the case.
Mr. Kadam was the investigating officer for a day and a half, after which the probe was transferred to another officer.
