Hit & Run: How Salman Khan continues to enjoy celebrity fun

 

 Mumbai, April 30: Bollywood superstar Salman Khan seems to have been enjoying his celebrity status, even though he is an accused in a hit and run case in which one person was killed and four were injured. A session court on Tuesday, April 30 once again exempted the actor from appearing for the court proceeding adjourning the matter till May 8. Salman's counsel Ashok Mundargi reportedly had requested the court to exempt the actor from appearance in connection with 2002 hit and run case. The court also would hear the actor's plea on the same scheduled date. Salman's application challenges a magistrate court order that changed the charges against him from death by negligence to culpable homicide. The actor had not been summoned to appear before the court and the matter was argued by his lawyers. The actor had contended the magistrate erred in invoking IPC section 304 part-II, offences under which are triable by a sessions court and attract 10 years imprisonment. He said the magistrate failed to appreciate that he had neither the intention (to kill people) nor the knowledge that his rash and negligent driving would kill. Earlier, Salman was tried by a magistrate for causing death by negligence (section 304 A) that provides for two years in jail. After examining 17 witnesses, the magistrate concluded culpable homicide charge was made out against the actor and transferred the case. On the fateful night of September 28, 2002, the actor allegedly driving under the influence of alcohol had run over his Toyota Land Cruiser on homeless people who were sleeping on the pavement. Earlier the 47-year-old actor had managed to get 87 exemptions (yes, you have read it right) from appearing before the court in relation to the same hit-and-run case. He was also one of the accused in the infamous hunting of Chinkara, an endangered species in Rajasthan, while shooting for a film. The number of exemptions itself is a record of sort for any accused facing criminal charges. The trail of the case began in Bandra court in 2006.