SC refers plea on Salman’s acquittal to other Bench

The Supreme Court on Monday referred a plea, seeking declaration of the Bombay high court’s verdict acquitting actor Salman Khan in a 2002 hit-and-run case as “arbitrary” and “void”, to a Bench dealing with the matter.

A Bench, headed by Chief Justice TS Thakur, referred the plea to the Bench that is hearing the Maharashtra government’s appeal against the actor’s acquittal in the case 

“How are you concerned with Salman Khan?... Let it come along with the main matter. Let it be listed before the Bench hearing the appeal arising out of the judgement of Bombay high court,” the Bench said.

The plea moved by advocate Paramanand Katara said there had been an increasing tendency of such appeals being moved in different High Courts and the Supreme Court should settle the issue. 

Maintaining that Khan was convicted and sentenced for five years with fine, he said hence the law required that the revision petition should have been filed under Section 397/401 of CrPC and not a criminal appeal under Section 374(2).