Salman's case: new paper-book given to HC; hearing adjourned

MUMBAI: A revised paper-book -- compilation of documentary evidence -- in the 2002 hit-and-run case in which Bollywood actor Salman Khan has been convicted was today placed before the Bombay High Court.

However, the court adjourned the hearing of Salman's appeal to September 15 as his lawyer sought time to examine the newly-compiled papers.

Paper-book is a compilation of evidence, documents and the lower court's orders/verdict, prepared by the HC registry. It is given to both the sides when appeal is heard.

Justice A R Joshi is hearing an appeal filed by Salman against the five-year sentence awarded to him on May 6 by the sessions court for ramming his car into a bakery in suburban Bandra on September 28, 2002, killing one person and injuring four.

Advocate Amit Desai, Salman's lawyer, had objeted to the earlier paper-book saying that some crucial documents were missing. So, the judge had directed that it be prepared afresh.

Desai had said that among other things the paper-book did not have a document pertaining to a media interview given by Ravindra Patil, a policeman who was then Salman's bodyguard and who was in the car when the accident took place.

Patil, who died during the trial, had contradicted in the interview his own statement before the magistrate that the actor was driving the car in a drunk state, an application filed by Salman's lawyer said.

The missing document was vital for the defence to prove that Patil was not telling the truth, the application said.

Salman, who is on bail, did not come to the court today. His sister Alvira was present.