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Salman Khan hit and run case: Actor had not drunk alcohol, lawyer tells HC

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New Delhi, Sept 29: The Defence lawyer is trying his best to prove Salman Khan's innocence in 2002 hit-and-run case. Debunking prosecution's claim, the actor's lawyer on Monday told the Bombay High Court that the evidence did not suggest that the actor had consumed alcohol on the night when accident took place.

Apparently, the lawyer tried to say that prosecution has yet not established that actor drank that night. "It would be wrong to accept that Salman had consumed high content of Bacardi white rum as alleged by the prosecution," senior counsel Amit Desai said. The Defence lawyer said this while arguing the appeal case filed by the actor against his conviction.

'Salman did not drink alcohol'

"All that has emerged in the evidence is that Salman was having a glass of white colour liquid," said Desai, adding that the glass contained only water and not alcohol.

The prosecution's case is that that Salman had rammed his Toyota Land Cruiser into a shop in suburban Bandra on September 28, 2002, killing one person and injuring four, who were sleeping on pavement outside. On May 6 this year, the trial court had awarded 5-year jail term to the actor.

Picked holes in the prosecution's arguments

The lawyer read out the evidence of Malay Semerendra Bag, the waiter at the Rain Bar and Restaurant where Salman allegedly had drinks. This witness is not specific whether it is Salman who gave the order or anyone else, said Desai.

The lawyer pointed out that the witness said he had kept 'Bacardi and Cosmopolitan cocktail' on the table. "But there is no mention of how much. Whether it is one bottle or two bottles...pegs by pegs, how many times," he said. Besides, the waiter had said that he had taken orders of Salman's friends and not the actor himself, Desai noted.

Manager of Rain Bar and Restaurant Rizwan Ali Rakhangi had said all tables were occupied. "There are 200 persons there...you cannot find one person from these tables who can say that Salman was drinking, you have not examined any of the friends of Salman Khan," said the lawyer.

"They (prosecution) went by the media-created 'bad boy' image (of Salman) and presumed that he was drunk," Desai said.

If an independent witness in the restaurant would have been examined, he would have told the truth, said Desai.

"PW 5 has stated that he has not seen Salman drinking. PW 9, in cross-examination, said Bacardi rum looks like water. Salman was drinking clear liquid. PW 9 had stated that clear liquid looks like water...this does not prove in any manner that Salman was drunk," Desai pointed out.

OneIndia News

(With inputs from PTI)

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