JOIN USActor Salman Khan was under the influence of alcohol as his blood sample tested positive, a witness testifying in the 12-year-old sensational hit-and-run case said on Wednesday.
Salman allegedly ran over some pavement-dwellers with his Toyota Land Cruiser in Bandra, killing one and injuring four, on September 28, 2002.
The actor who was earlier tried for a lesser offence of causing death by negligence, which provides for a maximum punishment of two years in jail, now stands trial under a more stringent law on culpable homicide not amounting to murder under section 304-II of the IPC that attracts a jail term of up to 10 years. The case is being heard in the Mumbai Sessions Court – and the next hearing is scheduled for December 15.
The 48-year-old actor was present in the courtroom on Wednesday – when a witness, who is a forensic expert, gave an account of traces of alcohol in the actor’s blood samples.
During the examination by special public prosecutor Pradeep Gharat, Bal Shankar, a chemical analyst of the forensic lab, said he conducted analysis of a 100 ml sample, and found 62 mg of ethyl alcohol. To a question, he said normally a person who consumes alcohol would have about 30 mg of alcohol per 100 ml, but if he or she is on medication then the alcohol content may increase by upto 40 per cent.