Bombay High Court suspends five-year Jail Sentence on Bollywood superstar Salman Khan
The Bombay High Court on 8th May 2015, suspended the five-year jail sentence to Bollywood superstar Salman Khan paving the way for him to apply for and seek regular bail. Salman Khan was sentenced to five years in prison on Wednesday on charges of drink driving, ramming his Toyota Land Cruiser SUV over five homeless men sleeping on the sidewalk outside American Express bakery on Hill Road Junction, in Bandra and killing one of them in Mumbai in 2002 and seriously injuring four others, and found him guilty of culpable homicide including Section 3 (1) of the Motor Vehicles Act for driving without licence, Duty of driver in case of accident or injury under Section 134 of Motor Vehicles Act, Drunk driving under Section 187 of the Motor Vehicles Act, Failing to report involvement of vehicle in an accident under Section 185 of the Motor Vehicles Act and lastly, Rash driving or riding on a public way under Section 279 . The trail had dragged for more than 12 years.
Salman, who was granted two days interim bail after his sentencing on May 6th 2015, will not now be taken into custody.
Justice Abhay Thipsay said the Mumbai High Court would start hearing Khan’s appeal in July, according to prosecutor Abha Singh. He asked Khan to pay a bail bond of 30,000 rupees (£325).
Several Khan’s supporters danced with joy outside his house in Mumbai, India’s financial and entertainment capital.
Khan began his career in 1988, playing a romantic action hero with many of his movies becoming box office hits. In recent years he turned to philanthropy, establishing a charitable trust called ‘Being Human’ which works in education and health care for the poor.
Bollywood filmmakers were worried about the court case because Khan has several films in the pipeline. Film industry analysts said Khan had projects worth 2.5 billion rupees (£26 million) depending on him.
Even if the Mumbai High Court upholds his conviction, the actor could go to India’s top court, the Supreme Court, seeking reversal of his sentence.