2002 hit-and-run case: Witness says Salman Khan was in driver's seat

Bollywood superstar Salman Khan suffers a setback in the 2002 hit-and-run case after a witness testifies against the actor, stating that Salman was behind the SUV's wheels when the accident took place

During the trial of the hit-and-run case involving actor Salman Khan, the sessions court yesterday heard statements of two more witnesses. Salman was also present during the hearing. The first witness was Kalpesh Verma, a parking assistant at JW Marriott Hotel in Juhu. Kalpesh told the court, “On the night of the incident, Salman was with his bodyguard and singer Kamaal Khan at the hotel.

Salman Khan

When Salman came outside the hotel to the parking lot with the duo, he sat in the driver’s seat of the vehicle and the singer sat in the back seat behind him.” Kalpesh added that after sitting in the car, Salman asked him how many of his colleagues were on duty at the time. When he told him that around 4-5 people were working, he gave him a R500 tip. After taking the tip, Kalpesh left the place.

However, during cross-examination, Salman’s lawyer, Shrikant Shivade, asked Kalpesh where exactly was Kamaal Khan sitting behind, to which the witness replied he was sitting on the left side, with the actor right in front of him, while the driver’s seat is on the right.

The second witness was Amin Kasam Sheikh, who used to work at A-1 Bakery, which is near the spot of the accident. Amin told the court that on the night of the incident, around 2.30 am, he heard some noise outside. When he went outside, he saw his colleagues, who used to sleep near American Express bakery, were under a white vehicle.

He heard people shouting, “‘Salman bahar aao’ (Salman, come outside).” During cross-examination, the defence lawyer asked him if he saw the actor, to which Amin said that he only saw the driver’s door open and Khan’s bodyguard standing near it. He said he did not know if the actor was in the car or not.

On September 28, 2002, Salman’s white Land Cruiser ran onto the pavement near the bakery in Bandra, killing one and injuring four others who were sleeping on the pavement. The actor has been accused of driving the car while being drunk. The next hearing is on November 5.

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