Will Salman Khan Face 10 Years Jail Term?

The July 19 court session of Salman Khan's hit-and-run case has been adjourned till July 24 for further hearing. The Bollywood actor along with some of his family members attended the hearing in person as per the court's earlier directives.

The court is expected to deliver its ruling in conducting a retrial. The fresh charge under Indian Penal Code Section 304 (III), which pertains to culpable homicide not amounting to murder, could attract a 10-year jail term for the actor.

Earlier, Salman Khan had been tried by a metropolitan magistrate under the less severe charges of IPC 304A, relating to rash and negligent driving which stipulated a maximum sentence of two years in prison.

However, the metropolitan magistrate invoked the more serious charge under Section 304 (III) of the IPC against the actor as 17 witnesses were examined in the case. The court has two options at the moment. Either to conduct a fresh trial or continue the existing case with the additional stringent charges. The court is expected to give its ruling on this at the next hearing.

At the hearing on July 19, Salman Khan was initially sitting in the visitors' area, but was later summoned to stand in the box meant for accused. The hit-and-run case took place over a decade ago. One person was killed and four others were injured when a Land Cruiser allegedly driven by Salman Khan in an intoxicated state. It is said that the actor ran his car over a group of footpath dwellers in Mumbai's Bandra suburb in the early hours of September 28, 2002.

IANS