Salman Khan could not have wished for a better birthday gift on Thursday, when a Mumbai magistrate court exempted him from personal appearance till January 30 next, in a matter of alleged submission of false evidence by the police in the 2002 hit-and-run case involving the Bollywood actor. One person was killed and four others were injured in the incident.Counsel Dipesh Mehta pointed out that the Bombay High Court had, in its June 10, 2005 order, exempted Mr. Khan from appearing personally in the case, considering the facts and circumstances placed before it. Moreover, the police would have to deploy additional personnel to manage crowds gathering at the court as Mr. Khan is a popular actor, said Mr. Mehta.
The court of the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Bandra, had issued a summons to Mr. Khan on an application filed by social worker Santosh Daundkar, alleging that submission of false evidence by the police in the trial against the actor delayed the case by 4-5 years.
The former IAS officer, Abha Singh, who is appearing for Mr. Daundkar, argued that “this case is about submitting false evidence and hence it is totally different than the one which is pending in the High Court.”
The magistrate court, however, granted exemption to Mr. Khan, and also ordered the police to file their reply in two days.
Earlier, Mr. Mehta submitted a reply to the charges made by Mr. Daundkar. He said: “The applicant has no proof and/or evidence to show that the trial got delayed for four years because of the accused. Therefore, the application is liable to be dismissed with costs.”