<p>Describing Salman Khan’s driver Ashok Singh as a “self-condemned liar”, the prosecution on Monday said that he has made himself liable for perjury by “falsely” claiming responsibility for the accident that claimed one life and injured four others 13 years ago.<br /><br /></p>.<p>“Ashok Singh has made himself liable for perjury, but at a later stage,” special public prosecutor Pradeep Gharat said making the final arguments before additional sessions judge D W Deshpande. “Salim Khan (father of Salman Khan) asks him to own up and he owns up…every conduct of the driver is unnatural,” he added.<br /><br />The trial of Salman Khan, 49, in the September 28, 2002, hit-and-run case is in the fag end. The accident took place at the 90 degree-sharp junction of the St Andrews Road-Hill Road of Bandra-West locality – nearly 200 metres away from Galaxy Apartments, the residence of the actor. Salman, said to be under the influence of alcohol, dashed his white-coloured Toyata Land Cruiser Lexus on to the pavement near a laundry and American Express Bakery killing one and injuring four.<br /><br />When the accident took place, he said, the witnesses heard a “big bang”. “Several witnesses have seen the accused (Salman Khan) coming out from the right side of the car…all witnesses say that he and his friend Kaamal Khan ran away after the incident. <br />The prosecutor pointed out that witness Francis Fernandes has testified before the court that Khan and his friend left in a car from the place of accident. “This has never been challenged,” he said.<br /><br />Gharat said: “This witness (Ashok Singh) was not present…he is a liar…he has come forward for the accused now, whatever may be the reasons.”<br /><br />The prosecutor went on to add after the accident he went to the Bandra police station, however, according to him he was asked to wait outside. “He said that he was not arrested and later Salman Khan was arrested in the morning. He had also said that there was a huge gathering of mediapersons outside the court and when he came out of the police station with Khan, their photographs were clicked…..at that stage, with such a grand opportunity, why he did not tell the media the truth,” he asked.<br /><br />Gharat said that Singh has not provided any “natural evidence”, and his replies were “not satisfactory” and he was “inconsistent” in his conduct. “His evidence needs to be rejected,” he said.<br /> </p>
<p>Describing Salman Khan’s driver Ashok Singh as a “self-condemned liar”, the prosecution on Monday said that he has made himself liable for perjury by “falsely” claiming responsibility for the accident that claimed one life and injured four others 13 years ago.<br /><br /></p>.<p>“Ashok Singh has made himself liable for perjury, but at a later stage,” special public prosecutor Pradeep Gharat said making the final arguments before additional sessions judge D W Deshpande. “Salim Khan (father of Salman Khan) asks him to own up and he owns up…every conduct of the driver is unnatural,” he added.<br /><br />The trial of Salman Khan, 49, in the September 28, 2002, hit-and-run case is in the fag end. The accident took place at the 90 degree-sharp junction of the St Andrews Road-Hill Road of Bandra-West locality – nearly 200 metres away from Galaxy Apartments, the residence of the actor. Salman, said to be under the influence of alcohol, dashed his white-coloured Toyata Land Cruiser Lexus on to the pavement near a laundry and American Express Bakery killing one and injuring four.<br /><br />When the accident took place, he said, the witnesses heard a “big bang”. “Several witnesses have seen the accused (Salman Khan) coming out from the right side of the car…all witnesses say that he and his friend Kaamal Khan ran away after the incident. <br />The prosecutor pointed out that witness Francis Fernandes has testified before the court that Khan and his friend left in a car from the place of accident. “This has never been challenged,” he said.<br /><br />Gharat said: “This witness (Ashok Singh) was not present…he is a liar…he has come forward for the accused now, whatever may be the reasons.”<br /><br />The prosecutor went on to add after the accident he went to the Bandra police station, however, according to him he was asked to wait outside. “He said that he was not arrested and later Salman Khan was arrested in the morning. He had also said that there was a huge gathering of mediapersons outside the court and when he came out of the police station with Khan, their photographs were clicked…..at that stage, with such a grand opportunity, why he did not tell the media the truth,” he asked.<br /><br />Gharat said that Singh has not provided any “natural evidence”, and his replies were “not satisfactory” and he was “inconsistent” in his conduct. “His evidence needs to be rejected,” he said.<br /> </p>
