Bodyguard's statement to be crucial in Salman case

The statement of Ravindra Patil, the late police-bodyguard of Bollywood actor Salman Khan, is going to be a crucial factor in one of the most keenly-watched trials involving a celebrity.

Patil had died of TB in 2007. However, before that his statement was recorded before the Magistrate’s court in Bandra.

On Friday, Additional Sessions Judge D W Deshpande, who is presiding over the re-trial at the Mumbai Sessions Court, would rule on the application moved by Public Prosecutor Pradeep Gharat to lead the evidence of Patil. While Salman’s counsel Shrikant Shivade, had admitted that Patil had died, he had disputed the cause of death as TB.

“The police bodyguard and the chemical analyst are the two important prosecution witnesses in the case,” a senior police official said.

Advocate Abha Singh said that the statement of Patil was recorded under section 164 of the CrPC. “He was an eyewitness to the incident. He was accompanying the actor when the accident occurred. He was also a complainant in the case. He had said in his statement that he had warned Salman not to drive at a great speed as he was drunk and could meet with an accident but the actor paid no heed.

“Even though it was recorded before Magistrate’s court and that he is no more, the statement holds good,” she said. Earlier, Salman (49) was tried in a metropolitan court, which had called off the trial mid-way after examining some witnesses. The court ruled that the offence of culpable homicide was made out against the actor and it transferred the case to the Mumbai sessions court for a fresh trial.

Offences under culpable homicide not amounting to murder are triable by a Sessions court – and in this case, it attracts a punishment upto 10 years in prison.

The case dates back to September 28, 2002, when Salman’s Land Cruiser knocked down a man in Bandra and injured four others. The actor was said to be at the wheel under the influence of alcohol.

Technically, the trial in the sessions court would start afresh as the Bandra Metropolitan Court had stopped after examining 17 witnesses, holding that the more serious charge of culpable homicide was made out against the actor.

Salman has been charged under Sections 304 (2) (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 279 (rash and negligent driving), 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life), 338 (causing grievous hurt) and 427 (mischief causing damage to property) of the IPC.

Besides, he was charged with sections 34(a)and(b) (cancellation of registration of vehicle) read with 181 (driving vehicle in contravention of rules) and 185 (driving at great  speed after taking drinks) of the Motor Vehicles Act apart from Bombay Prohibition Act for driving under the influence of liquor.