Bollywood actor Salman Khan’s acquittal in the 2002 drunken driving, hit-and-run case – an accident that left one dead and four others injured – has not come as a surprise.
The Bombay High Court threw out an earlier conviction and five-year sentence given to the 49-year-old actor.
“The trial court’s verdict is quashed and set aside,” Judge A R Joshi said in reading the verdict to a crowded courtroom, according to the Press Trust of India news agency. “Salman is acquitted of all charges.”
The judges said in their ruling, which was read over several days, that prosecutors had failed to prove charges of culpable homicide, in which they accused Khan of driving while intoxicated in 2002 and running over five men sleeping on a pavement in Mumbai, killing one of them.
While his fans are delighted at the news, and are already celebrating outside the star’s plush Mumbai home, for others, the verdict – which overturns a five-year sentence announced in May – is confirmation that there was never any chance that a wealthy celebrity would end up in jail, particularly when the victims were four homeless people.
The judge said: “On basis of evidence produced by the prosecution, the appellant cannot be convicted, no matter how differently the common man thinks.”
But “the common man” will not be convinced that the evidence against Khan was flawed. The barbed comments on social media have already begun to flow: “Oh, now we know – it was the car that was responsible.” “As always, one law for the rich, another for the poor.”
Khan is finally a free man. And the entire Hindi film industry is breathing a huge sigh of relief – movies worth billions of rupees are riding on the actor, whose popularity, despite the May conviction, has actually soared: he has had two back-to-back hits – Bajrangi Bhaijaan and Prem Ratan Dhan Payo – since then.
After the May verdict, Bollywood came all out in support of Khan, taking to Twitter to air their views – and faced a backlash from the outraged public for supporting a convicted killer.
Khan – who apparently broke down in court on hearing that he was acquitted – will probably go big on his birthday celebrations December 27.
But what of the families of the dead man? What about the wives and children of the injured, some of whom have not been able to work again? For them, the verdict will be shattering.
Or maybe not. A few months ago, one of Sharif’s relatives was interviewed by a television reporter who wanted his reaction to the guilty verdict. The man was listless and taciturn, and not particularly pleased. The reporter was surprised at his attitude and kept prodding, eager for him to say that he was pleased that justice had been done.
But the man merely replied: ‘What will justice do for us? Will it put food in our mouths? Will it make us any less poor?’ In 2002, the Bombay High Court had directed Khan to pay compensation to the victims, including the sum of one million rupees (Dh60,000) to Sharif’s family. However, after the May verdict, his relatives were quoted in an Indian newspaper saying that they had received nothing.
According to news reports, the prosecution is likely to challenge the verdict, but justice seems unlikely, given that Khan has gone unpunished for 13 whole years. In the words of one disillusioned Twitter user: “#SalmanVerdict is an indicator of everything that is wrong with India today.”
Bollywood reacts
Filmmaker Subhash Ghai has told NDTV news channel that he is delighted for Khan’s family. “It’s been 13 long years that have taken their toll on the family. He wasn’t even able to even think of getting married all these years because of this case. He could have married at 34. Now he is 50,” said Ghai.
Later, Ghai tweeted: “God is always kind to good human beings, @BeingSalmanKhan
with gods blessings is freed today from a hanging sword for thirteen years.”
Actor Aarman Kohli tweeted: “Best things happens to best people :-) sir wish u all the happiness big congratulations.”
Filmmaker Milap Zaveri wrote: “Congratulations! @BeingSalmanKhan
God Bless may this positive news bring a sense of peace and atonement.”
Actor Anupam Kher tweeted: “So happy that @BeingSalmanKhan is acquitted of all charges. Truth Prevails. Even if it takes 13 long years.”
* with AP files
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