Bombay high court stops TV channels from showing Salman Khan's hit-and-run case

Mumbai, June 1: Television channels have been restrained by the Bombay high court from telecasting any programme on the hit and run case involving actor Salman Khan or publishing its contents on the Internet.

The order was passed by Justice S C Gupte yesterday on Salman's application pleading that allegations made in the shows were defamatory and sought to "dramatise and sensationalise" the case in which he is being prosecuted. The programme was first shown on 21 May on Headlines Today and its contents were submitted before the High court in a CD.

The Bollywood actor has filed a suit against the defendants and also moved a notice of motion seeking a restraint order against the channels from repeating the controversial programme. Salman's lawyer Gaurav Joshi, argued that allegations would influence and prejudice the outcome of the case. He gave several instances of the "offending allegations" levelled in the programme against the plaintiff.

No lawyer appeared for the defendants - TV Today Network Ltd, Headlines Today and five other channels despite being served with a copy of the suit, notice of motion and the application seeking a restraint order, Salman's counsel said.

The Judge felt that the interest of justice would be served if the plaintiff (Salman) was asked to renew his application on June 2 with a fresh notice to the defendants.

The Court has posted the matter for hearing on June 2 for ad-interim reliefs. Salman is facing prosecution in the 2002 case in which he is alleged to have run his SUV over a group of people sleeping on a pavement at suburban Bandra, leaving one dead and four injured.

PTI