Hit-and-run case: Salman to be tried for causing death due to negligence

Salman Khan will be tried for causing death by negligence in a hit-and-run case in which the actor is accused of killing one person and injuring four after his vehicle ran over the pavement in suburban Bandra on September 28, 2002.

A Mumbai court on Monday framed charges against him. He will be tried under section 304a (causing death by negligence) of the Indian Penal Code, which carries a maximum sentence of two years rigorous imprisonment.

Salman will also be tried under sections 279 (rash driving), 337 (causing hurt), 338 (causing grievous injury by an act endangering life or personal safety of others), 427 (mischief causing damage) read with 130(1),  134(a)(b) and 177 (furnishing false information) of the Indian Penal Code, section 66 (1b) of the Bombay Prohibition Act (driving in an inebriated state) and section 181(3) of the Motor Vehicles Act.

After Public Prosecutor R S Khandekar read out the charges against him, Salman Khan told the court that he understood the charges and pleaded innocence. The hearing of the case will begin from October 21.

Recently, the Bombay high court had dropped the charge of section 304 (2) (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the IPC following a plea by the actor.

The public prosecutor said the state government intends to challenge this decision and hence sought adjournment of the proceedings. But Magistrate S Y Shishode did not entertain the appeal.

Salman Khan's advocate Dipesh Mehta accused the public prosecutor of delaying the legal process with a view to harass the actor.