A day after arguing that the sole victim who died in the 2002 hit-and-run case against him might have been killed after the crane dropped his car, Salman Khan on Saturday claimed that he did not run away from the accident spot. His lawyer, Shrikant Shivade, argued that the actor, in fact, tried to help the victims, but was sent away to safety by those who were worried for him.
A witness who was close to Salman had earlier told the court that enraged people had caught hold of Salman when he shouted for his help, “Commander, save me!” On Saturday, Mr. Shivade called it miscommunication. “Salman had in fact shouted, ‘Commander, save the injured persons!’ Due to his age, he heard it wrongly.”
“Salman was sent. He didn’t run away,” Mr Shivade said. He denied that Salman was absconding after the accident. “He was very much present in Galaxy apartment on 28th morning. He was in a condition of shock,” he said.
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On Saturday, Mr. Shivade also showed a video clip and a Google map clipping to the court regarding the alleged route his car took on the night of the accident, and the impact of a tyre burst.
Mr. Shivade questioned the statement of prime witness and Salman’s bodyguard at the time, deceased constable Ravindra Patil. “There are deliberate omissions and improvements in his statement. It has caused prejudice to us. It is very dangerous to base everything on the evidence of this man,” Mr. Shivade said here.
Casting further aspersions on the statement of deceased constable Ravindra Patil, Mr. Shivade said, “One of the witnesses has said that Patil was present on the spot for only 10 to 15 minutes after which he left. Where did he go? Why did he go? His presence is in dispute. His approach is casual. He didn’t know anything.”
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The final arguments are likely to conclude on April 20.