Not all are amused by instant bail

Not everyone seems to be happy over Bombay High Court granting bail to convict Bollywood star Salman Khan in a hit and run case, barely two days after his conviction.

A former high court judge, politicians and an activist have expressed reservations at the speed at which Salman got bail after he was sentenced to five years in jail.

They wondered whether ordinary people would be treated in the same manner.
The court suspended his sentence since Salman has filed an appeal against the judgement.

Former Punjab and Haryana High Court chief justice Mukul Mudgal did not hide his feeling when he commented, “I am sure that Bombay HC will ensure that all bail petitions are disposed off in the same way”.

However, Justice Mudgal, who headed the IPL fixing probe, said that “it’s a good thing that the bail petition has been disposed off in two days”.

The instant bail to Khan echoed even in the Lok Sabha on Friday.

In a veiled attack on the matinee idol, Congress’ M I Shanavas questioned celebrities getting instant bail, while 2.73 lakh undertrials languished in jails.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, he did not name Salman but gave enough hints by talking about a “mega star” and a “celebrity”. He wanted the government to address this issue.

Neelam Katara, who turned an activist since her son Nitish was murdered by influential criminal-turned politician D P Yadav, was more forthright in responding to the Salman verdict.

Arguing that the bail to  Salman “sends a wrong message”,  Katara sarcastically added: “If you have money and if you are powerful, then you can continue drinking and driving.”

Even former Mumbai police commissioner-turned BJP MP from western UP Satyapal Singh felt that the high court’s decision has destroyed the belief that “persons big or small are equal before the law” - a feeling generated after the trial court convicted the star. 

“Decision of (Bombay High Court) proves that the poor have not got justice.. What happened day before yesterday had brought hope to people that persons big or small are equal before law,” Satyapal Singh told reporters outside Parliament.

NCP president Sharad Pawar, according to a PTI report from Mumbai, strongly disapproved of "enthusiasm" shown by certain politicians in calling on Bollywood superstar Salman Khan at his residence after his conviction in the 2002 hit-and-run case.

"After the Sessions Court verdict on Wednesday, some politicians were overenthusiastic in visiting Salman Khan at his residence. This was undesirable. Why do politicians need to show interest in this (Khan) case when the courts have already passed their judgment? Whatever their personal relations with Salman, they should not be displaying it this way," the agency quoted Pawar as having told reporters in Ratnagiri district in Konkan region.