Salman did not run away after the accident: lawyer

Bollywood actor Salman Khan's lawyer today accused the prosecution of cooking up a false story that he ran away from the spot after his car rammed into a bakery in suburban Bandra killing one person and injuring four others on September 28, 2002.
"Khan was very much present at the spot for quite some time as revealed by the prosecution witnesses," defence lawyer Shrikant Shivade said in his final argument before the sessions judge D W Deshpande.
Witnesses said that after the mishap, Khan was standing there for 5 to 10 minutes and then he left, said Shivade.
Shivade also referred to the evidence of defence witness Ashok Singh, Khan's family driver, who said that the actor stayed on the spot with him for quite some time.

The defence lawyer also rejected the prosecution's claim that Khan absconded after the mishap and was not found at his home.
"Khan was very much present at his residence in Galaxy Apartments in Bandra," said Shivade, referring to the statement of Chinky Pandey, car dealer and brother of actor Chunky Pandey, who had sold the car to Khan.

Pandey had visited Khan's house in the morning (after the mishap) between 9 AM and 9.30 AM and was with him, he said.
Moreover, as stated by Ashok Singh it was he (Singh) who was driving and not Khan so there was no reason for the actor to run away, the lawyer said.

Shivade also relied on the statement of Khan's friend and neighbour Francis Fernandes who said he separated the actor from the mob at the accident spot.
Some of them were carrying rods while others held stones in their hands, and he advised Khan to go away in a car, which Fernandes's wife drove, the lawyer said.
Salman is facing the charge of 'culpable homicide not amounting to murder'. The judge today said that arguments should end by Monday, when he would be fixing the date for pronouncement of verdict.