 "Salman Khan can do no wrong for his audiences and for the brands he endorses but the new generation of celebrities")
CHARGES AGAINST SALMAN KHAN
* Indian Penal Code Section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder): Attracts up to 10 years in prison
* Section 279 (rash and negligent driving): Stipulates six months in jail
* Sections 337 & 338 (causing hurt by act endangering life & causing grievous hurt): Attracts punishment up to two years
* Section 427 (causing damage to property): Punishment of up to two years
* Motor Vehicles Act: Sections 34, 181 (driving vehicle in contravention of rules) and 185 (driving at great speed after
consuming alcohol): Leads to cancellation of driving license
* BombayProhibition Act (driving under the influence of alcohol): Maximum of six months in jail
THE STORY SO FAR
September 28, 2002: Around 2 a.m. Salman Khan's Toyota Land Cruiser rams into a roadside bakery in Bandra West, close to his Galaxy Apartments seafront home. Five people sleeping are injured, one of whom later dies. Later that afternoon, Salman arrested by Bandra police and enlarged on bail by a Bandra Metropolitan Magistrate court
October 21, 2002: The Bandra police file charge-sheet, slapping Section 304 on Salman
October 24, 2002: Salman arrested for the second time; secures bail from Sessions Court
March 2003: Salman challenges the application of Section 304 in the Sessions Court
May 2003: Court rejects Salman's application and asks the magistrate court to frame charges under Section 304
October 2003: State challenges in Supreme Court June 2003 Bombay High Court order that Section 304 is not applicable in this case
December 2003: In a breather for Salman, Supreme Court rules that the magistrate should, after perusal of all the evidence, decide whether to invoke harsher sections of IPC
October 2006: Bandra Metropolitan Magistrate Courtframes charges against the actor under Section 304 of the IPC and other sections
May 2007: Chemical analysis report suggested that Salman was drunk at the time of the accident
March 2011: The prosecution seeks enhanced charges against Salman
December 2012: Bandra Metropolitan Magistrate Courtrules that a case has been made out under Sec. 304 and commits the trial to the Sessions Court
March 2013: Salman files a revision application with the Sessions Court challenging lower court order
June 24, 2013: Sessions court rejects Salman's application, paving the way for applying the stringent section
July 23, 2013: Sessions court frames charges against Salman invoking the enhanced charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder
December 2013: Mumbai Sessions Courtorders a fresh trial against the actor and recording of fresh evidence from all witnesses who had also deposed before the Metropolitan Magistrate court.
April 2014: First witness Samba Gowda deposes in the re-trial, which continues before the Sessions Court with regular hearings
March 25, 2015: Special Public Prosecutor Pradeep Gharat closed his case against Salman after examining 27 witnesses during the re-trial
April 20: Judge Deshpande sets date May 6, 2015 for verdict
Defence counsel Shrikant Shivade forcefully argues against prosecution charges and closes arguments
May 6: Additional Sessions Judge D W Deshpande pronounces Salman Khan guilty in 2002 hit-and-run case; sentences him to five years in jail; the Bombay High Court grants interim bail to Salman Khan just hours after a Sessions court convicts him to 5 years in jail
May 8: Bombay High Court suspends the 5-year sentence pending an appeal
May 28: An RTI query revealed that the Maharashtra government does not have any "information" on Bollywood actor Salman Khan's 2002 hit-and-run case as the files pertaining to it were gutted in a fire at Mantralaya
June 15: Bombay High Court adjourns the hearing on Salman Khan's appeal against conviction in the 2002 hit-and-run case to July 1
July 1: Bombay High Court defers till July 13 the appeal filed by Salman Khan against the five-year sentence
July 27: Supreme Court dismisses the petition filed by the mother of a deceased Mumbai police constable, seeking transfer of Salman Khan's 2002 hit-and-run case from Mumbai to Delhi. Bombay High Court says it will hear the appeal filed by Salman Khan against the five-year sentence from July 30 on a regular basis.
August 31: Supreme Court dismisses a petition seeking cancellation of bail of Salman Khan
September 7: Bombay High Court directs its registry to prepare a fresh paper-book -- a compilation of documentary evidence in the 2002 accident case and conviction of Salman Khan
September 11: A revised paper-book is placed before the Bombay High Court. Court adjourns the hearing of Salman's appeal to September 15
December 4: Supreme Court rejects a plea, filed by mother of Ravindra Patil (Salman's police bodyguard), to cancel the superstar's bail
December 9: Bombay High Court observes that prosecution has failed to prove that the actor had consumed liquor and was driving the Toyota Land Cruiser when the mishap occurred
December 10: Salman Khan is acquitted of all charges by the Bombay High Court.
