Salman walks free: Who was behind the wheel that night?

As per the defence’s theory, there were four people in the Toyota Land Cruiser on September 27, 2002. We take an illustrated look at the four, and at their roles in the case

Ravindra Patil
Police constable Ravindra Patil was Salman Khan's bodyguard, and an important link in the case. The prosecution's case was standing on him since he told the court that Salman was drunk and was driving the car. The HC however declared him as partially reliable witness, as it found several anomalies in his statements. Patil died on October 3, 2007 before the trial started in the Sessions court.

Graphic: Uday Mohite

Ashok Singh
His presence in the car was not known till March this year, when he came forward to take responsibility for the accident. Singh claimed that he was driving the car in 2002 when the accident took place, and he approached the court this late since he did not know what to do. The High Court observed that the Sessions court got carried away on the media’s impression of him appearing late.

Kamaal Khan
Singer and Salman’s friend was sitting behind Salman Khan in the car. He was never examined in the case. Justice AR Joshi observed that he should have been examined, as he could have been an important witness. The prosecution had claimed that Kamaal was not available. But his current address was given to the Bandra court this time, and the police should have taken that.

Salman Khan
The accused, as per the Bandra Police, who was driving the SUV. But, as per the defence, he was sitting besides the driver Ashok Singh and was pulled into the controversy since he is a celebrity. Khan was sentenced to five years in prison by a Sessions court for driving the car. However, the defence highlighted several anomalies in the investigation process to get him acquitted.

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