Bollywood celebrities like Rishi Kapoor, Sajid Khan and Rohit Roy have welcomed the Bombay High Court’s decision to suspend superstar Salman Khan’s five-year sentence in the 2002 hit-and-run case.
The HC on Friday admitted his appeal against conviction and granted him bail.
Veteran actor Rishi, who is back on Twitter after a very short absence due to the online trolls, said, “Back. Welcome reprieve for Salman. Unprecedented reaction to this news.”
Filmmaker Sajid Khan tweeted, “@BeingSalmanKhan bollywood, fans and his critics will all have to agree to this.. Salman Rules Fridays... I am very happy for the Khan family,” Sajid Khan
. >@BeingSalmanKhan bollywood,fans and his critics will all have to agree to this..Salman Rules Fridays...im very happy for the khan family..
— Sajid Khan (@SimplySajidK) >May 8, 2015
“Looks like someone up there heard all our prayers,” actor Rohit Roy posted.
Actress Ameesha Patel, who visited Salman at his residence on Thursday, posted, “So happy to hear the good news that @BeingSalmanKhan has got bail. Prayers of all have been answered.”
So happppppy to hear the good news that >@BeingSalmanKhan has got bail . Prayers of all have been answered
— ameesha patel (@ameesha_patel) >May 8, 2015
“The kindness of a man has been judged by the god himself... Good deeds never go in vain. Thank you one and all for the prayers and love,” tweeted Salman’s Jai Ho co-star Daisy Shah.
Actress Amrita Rao said, “Happy for @BeingSalmanKhan & family.”
“Joy and Happiness for @BeingSalmanKhan and family..all prayers were listened to ..jai mahasar maa,” Satish Kaushik tweeted.
Singer Mika Singh wrote, “Agar dua dil se ho toh zarur puri hoti hai (If prayers come from the heart then it is always answered).... Thanks to all @BeingSalmanKhan fans for their prayers and good wishes ...I’m so happy...”
My best wishes to big brother >@BeingSalmanKhan and I'm 200% sure God will help the man who always helps others. Keep praying :)
— King Mika Singh (@MikaSingh) >May 8, 2015
Pakistani singer Adnan Sami tweeted, “I am extremely happy for @BeingSalmanKhan! He definitely deserves this relief.#ISupportSalman.”
I'm extremely happy for >@BeingSalmanKhan !! He dedinitely deserves this relief. >#ISupportSalman>pic.twitter.com/YBMyCq1QuQ
— Adnan Sami (@AdnanSamiLive) >May 8, 2015
Salman Khan in the eye of the storm
Other controversies
- » Blackbuck case: He was accused of poaching two Blackbucks in 1998 near Jodhpur during the shooting of 'Hum Saath Saath Hain'. He was sentenced to one year prison.
- » Comments about 26/11 attacks: “It was the elite that was targeted this time. So they panicked. Then they got up and spoke about it. My question is why not before? Attacks have happened in trains and small towns too, but no one talked about it so much,” Salman said in 2010. He claimed that Pakistan cannot be held responsible. He later apologised.
- » Aishwarya Rai in the picture: After their presence in ‘Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam’, the couple’s relationship was in the eye of the storm. After they broke up in 2002, Aishwarya alleged that the actor harassed her, as he was unable to come to terms with the ending of their relationship. A case was also registered by Aishwarya’s parents.
- » Brawl with SRK: In 2008, the two actors allegedly got into a fistfight during a party. The relationship between the two stars has never been the same since then. However, the two actors got back together on a good foot in an Iftar party and SRK attended Salman’s sister’s wedding. SRK visited Salman hours before the verdict on hit-and-run case.
- » Vivek Oberoi’s allegations: The actor accused Salman of "threatening to kill him, abusing and indulging in character assassination." It was rumoured that Vivek Oberoi and Aishwarya Rai were in a relationship.
>Salman Khan convicted in hit-and-run case
Justice D.W. Deshpande held the Bollywood actor guilty of all counts rejecting his claim that his driver Ashok Singh was at the wheel when the accident took place.
The Bombay High Court on May 8, 2015 stayed the conviction and gave bail to the actor upon furnishing a bond of Rs. 30,000.
>How the hit-and-run case unfolded
From initial charges to the final verdict, here's a timeline of the case that spanned over a massive 13 years.