Salman exempted from appearing in court

Actor Salman Khan on Monday was exempted till May 8 from appearing in the sessions court that is hearing his petition challenging Magistrate Court's order in the 2002 hit-and-run case. The case was adjourned to May 8 for next hearing.

In 2002, the actor while cruising at a high speed, allegedly lost control of his Toyota Land Cruiser and went careening into a roadside bakery, leading to the death of one person and injury of four. In February, the Bandra Metropolitan Magistrate Court where the decade-old case was being heard, in its order, found the actor guilty on grounds that he was fully aware of the consequences of driving rashly.

The court took cognizance of the submissions made by the actor's police bodyguard who  said that he had warned the film star not to drive at a speed of 90 to 100 km as there was a blind turning ahead.

The court also took cognizance of the pathological reports which indicated that the actor while driving was under the influence of alcohol. Thus the magistrate observed that apart from trying the actor for rash and driving, he  should also be tried under culpable homicide not amounting to murder.