Actor Salman Khan had the knowledge that driving in a rash and negligent manner under the influence of liquor might result in death of people, Mumbai sessions court judge DW Deshpande said, convicting him of culpable homicide in the 2002 hit-and-run case.
In the verdict delivered on Wedneday, Deshpande, who sentenced the actor to five years’ rigorous imprisonment, said since Khan lived in the area where the accident took place, he had the knowledge that poor people used to sleep on the pavement.
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The accused is a well-known actor and had knowledge that one should not drive vehicle without licence...he also had knowledge that one should not drive after consuming liquor and that too in late night,” he said.
“These are the basic rules. The accused is a regular visitor to ‘Rain Bar’ as disclosed by witnesses. Prosecution witness 17, Mark D’souza has also said that Salman regularly passed by the area where American Express laundry is located,” the judge said in the 240-page verdict.
Khan was charged with ramming the bakery adjacent to the American Express laundry with his Toyota Land Cruiser in suburban Bandra, killing one person and injuring four others sleeping on the pavement outside. The judgement further said the accused had the knowledge that people slept on footpath outside the shops near American Express laundry because he lived in the area.