Salman verdict: M'rashtra may move SC

The Maharashtra government is likely to appeal in the Supreme Court against the Bombay High Court verdict acquitting actor Salman Khan in a 13-year-old drunken-driving and hit-and-run incident, in which one person was killed and four others injured.

However, till Friday evening no final decision was taken – and it is expected that by mid-next week, when the Nagpur winter session ends, a decision would be taken.

“We would go through both the verdicts, of the Mumbai Sessions Court, that conducted the trial, and the Bombay High Court,” Advocate General Shrihari Aney said in Aurangabad. “No decision has been taken yet, we will give our opinion,” he added.

In related development, chief public prosecutor and government pleader Sandeep Shinde has submitted his report to the home department which is headed by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

In the report, he has indicated that the verdict was fit for appeal in the Supreme Court. He, however, refused to comment on the contents of the report. “I cannot disclose any details as the winter session of the state legislature in going on,” said Shinde. Meanwhile, Judge A R Joshi, who acquitted Salman Khan, retired on Friday.