Drunk Salman was behind wheels: Maha to SC

Actor Salman Khan was drunk and driving his SUV when it ran over persons sleeping on a pavement in Mumbai in 2002, the Maharashtra government told the Supreme Court on Friday, while seeking reversal of the Bombay high court verdict acquitting him.

Terming the High Court's verdict as "perverse", "improper" and "complete travesty of justice", Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the state, said Khan was driving the vehicle and "introduction" of his driver as the person, who was behind the wheels, was an "afterthought" that came to light after 13 years of the incident.

The Bench, comprising Justices JS Khehar and C Nagappan, however, did not issue notice to the superstar and fixed Maharashtra's plea for further hearing on February 12 as it wanted to satisfy itself on the aspect as to who was driving the vehicle on the fateful night.

Referring to sequence of events and testimonies of some of the witnesses, Rohatgi said that besides Khan, his singer friend Kamaal Khan and a constable was inside the vehicle and there are statements which amply suggest that the actor was driving.

The alcohol level was beyond the permissible limit in Khan's blood sample, which was collected even after 12 hours, he said, adding that it was an admitted fact that the actor lacked driving license in 2002. The Attorney General referred to verdicts, including the BMW hit-and-run case involving Delhi businessman Sanjeev Nanda, and sought issuance of notice to Khan.

He debunked the theory that instead of Salman, his driver Ashok Brahmadev Singh was driving the Toyota Land cruiser on the night of September 28, 2002 when it crashed into a Bandra pavement, killing one and injuring four others.