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| Salman Khan: Bollywood actor cleared in hit-and-run incident | Salman Khan: Bollywood actor cleared in hit-and-run incident |
| (34 minutes later) | |
| The high court in the Indian city of Mumbai has overturned Bollywood star Salman Khan's conviction for a 2002 hit-and-run case. | The high court in the Indian city of Mumbai has overturned Bollywood star Salman Khan's conviction for a 2002 hit-and-run case. |
| In May, a lower court convicted him of culpable homicide and sentenced him to five years in jail for driving over and killing a man sleeping on a pavement. | In May, a lower court convicted him of culpable homicide and sentenced him to five years in jail for driving over and killing a man sleeping on a pavement. |
| But the appeals judge ruled there was not enough evidence. | But the appeals judge ruled there was not enough evidence. |
| Khan is one of Bollywood's biggest stars, appearing in more than 80 Hindi films, and has a huge fan following. | Khan is one of Bollywood's biggest stars, appearing in more than 80 Hindi films, and has a huge fan following. |
| It was only when the judge insisted that Salman Khan must be present before the verdict was read out, that the actor hurried to the court in south Mumbai on Thursday, the BBC's Yogita Limaye reports from Mumbai. | It was only when the judge insisted that Salman Khan must be present before the verdict was read out, that the actor hurried to the court in south Mumbai on Thursday, the BBC's Yogita Limaye reports from Mumbai. |
| "The appeal is allowed and the decision of the trial court is quashed and set aside. Salman Khan is acquitted of all charges," news agency AFP quoted the Bombay high court judge Anil Ramchandra Joshi as saying. | "The appeal is allowed and the decision of the trial court is quashed and set aside. Salman Khan is acquitted of all charges," news agency AFP quoted the Bombay high court judge Anil Ramchandra Joshi as saying. |
| The prosecution "failed to establish [the charges] beyond reasonable doubt", the judge added. | The prosecution "failed to establish [the charges] beyond reasonable doubt", the judge added. |
| The actor, surrounded by his family members, broke down after hearing the verdict, the Press Trust of India reported. | The actor, surrounded by his family members, broke down after hearing the verdict, the Press Trust of India reported. |
| He later tweeted that he accepted the ruling with "humility": | |
| Thursday's verdict is the latest twist in a case that began 13 years ago when Khan's Toyota Land Cruiser car veered off the road, killing one man and seriously injuring four others. | Thursday's verdict is the latest twist in a case that began 13 years ago when Khan's Toyota Land Cruiser car veered off the road, killing one man and seriously injuring four others. |
| During his trial in the lower court, Khan had argued that his driver had been behind the wheel, but the judge said it was the actor who had been driving under the influence of alcohol. | During his trial in the lower court, Khan had argued that his driver had been behind the wheel, but the judge said it was the actor who had been driving under the influence of alcohol. |
| Now the high court has said that key evidence - including testimony from a policeman who has since died - was not reliable. | Now the high court has said that key evidence - including testimony from a policeman who has since died - was not reliable. |
| The prosecution is likely to challenge the verdict, reports say. | The prosecution is likely to challenge the verdict, reports say. |
| Case timeline | Case timeline |
| September 2002: Salman Khan's car runs over five people sleeping on a Mumbai street, killing a homeless man and injuring four others | September 2002: Salman Khan's car runs over five people sleeping on a Mumbai street, killing a homeless man and injuring four others |
| October 2002: Khan charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder - arrested but granted bail | October 2002: Khan charged with culpable homicide not amounting to murder - arrested but granted bail |
| May 2003: Court rejects his plea to drop culpable homicide charge | May 2003: Court rejects his plea to drop culpable homicide charge |
| June 2003: Bombay high court drops culpable homicide charge; Khan is then tried for rash and negligent driving | June 2003: Bombay high court drops culpable homicide charge; Khan is then tried for rash and negligent driving |
| October 2007: Prime witness, a constable who served in his security detail, dies | October 2007: Prime witness, a constable who served in his security detail, dies |
| March 2015: Khan tells the court he was not drunk and his driver was behind the wheel | March 2015: Khan tells the court he was not drunk and his driver was behind the wheel |
| May 2015: Khan found guilty, given a five year jail sentence | May 2015: Khan found guilty, given a five year jail sentence |
| Why Bollywood's 'bad boy' will stay popular | Why Bollywood's 'bad boy' will stay popular |
| The superstar who lives dangerously | The superstar who lives dangerously |
| Bollywood stars defend a killer | Bollywood stars defend a killer |
| Salman Khan: Victims' families want 'compensation' | Salman Khan: Victims' families want 'compensation' |
| Twitter reaction | Twitter reaction |
| Meanwhile, #SalmanVerdict has been the top trending topic on Twitter as thousands have expressed their opinion on the ruling. | Meanwhile, #SalmanVerdict has been the top trending topic on Twitter as thousands have expressed their opinion on the ruling. |
| Some have supported the actor, saying the court's order should be respected: | Some have supported the actor, saying the court's order should be respected: |
| But others seemed not too happy with the verdict: | But others seemed not too happy with the verdict: |
| And some others resorted to humour to comment on the case: | And some others resorted to humour to comment on the case: |