Actor Salman Khan on his way to a Mumbai court. (PTI photo)
The prosecution in Salman Khan's hit-and -run case today made an impassioned plea to the court to reject the actor's claim that it was his driver who driving the Toyota Land Cruiser that left one dead and four injured in September 2002.
In the final arguments in the ongoing trial of the case, Public Prosecutor Advocate Pradeep Gharat reiterated that there were only three people - including Salman Khan - inside the car at the time of the accident. He further added that in last 12 years, the presence of a fourth person had never come up.
Last week Salman Khan had testified before the court that his driver, Ashok Singh, was behind the wheels when the accident took place. The actor has also denied his bodyguard Ravindra Patil's statement that his warnings the actor drove the vehicle at a high speed, in a drunken state, and lost control in the early hours of September 28, 2002.
Ashok Singh, appearing for the first time in the court earlier this week, also confirmed Salman Khan's version to the court, "I was driving when the accident place. It happened because of tyre burst and jammed breaks. I narrated the incident to the police but was made to wait endlessly at the police station. I suspected foul play and informed Salman about it."
Mr Gharat argued that the actor did not possess a driving license at the time of the accident. He claims Salman Khan reportedly got a driving license in 2004.
"He is responsible for culpable homicide not amounting to murder because he (Salman Khan) caused a person's death by driving his car over the victim in rash and negligent manner in a drunken state, in spite of knowing his action could cause death," argued Mr Gharat.
Salman khan, who was not present during the arguments today, has been asked appear before the court for the next hearing on April 6. If convicted he could face up to ten years in jail.