Salman Khan hit-and-run case: Key witnesses

Salman Khan's hit-and-run case has gathered much media traction and understandably so. While the actor made the rounds of the court, the media followed him for a minute-by-minute update. The case, the final verdict for which came on May 6, 2015, has always been dissected with precision mainly due to the involvement of Salman Khan. The actor was convicted on all the charges slammed against him and is currently out on an interim bail. While different reports claim different things, let's take a look at the key witness whose statement might have led to Salman's conviction...

The statement given by Ravindra Patil, a police constable who was appointed as Salman Khan’s bodyguard, was important in the prosecution’s case. As Patil had passed away in 2007, the prosecution had asked the sessions court to consider his statement, which was recorded before the magistrate court, as evidence. In his statement, Patil had told the court, “On September 28, 2002, I was attached to the protection branch. I was deputed as Salman Khan’s bodyguard and was to remain with him.” Patil said they went to JW Marriott, where he was made to wait outside. “They (Salman and Kamaal) came out at 2.15am. When the accused sat behind the wheel, I asked him whether he would be driving the car. He ignored me. The accused was driving the car at a speed of 90-100km/hour. Before reaching the Hill Road junction, I told the accused to slow down as a right turn was coming up. He ignored me again. The accused lost control of the car while taking a turn and drove right on to the footpath." Patil had told the court that the car crashed into American Express bakery and broke its shutter. “There was a lot of shouting and people had gathered around us. I showed my identity card and told the crowd I was a policeman, which pacified them. The accused and Kamaal ran away from the spot. I went to the car to check and saw that one person was seriously injured. There were four others who were stuck under the car.” [sic]

While Ravindra Patil's statement played a major role in the actor's conviction, here is a list of other witnesses who helped the prosecution build a strong case against the actor...

Witnesses who testified against Salman Khan

Bartender Moloy Baug at Rain Bar who said the actor’s group had ordered liquor. The actor had reportedly been drinking at the hotel after which he drove.

Rizwan Rakhanngi, manager at Rain Bar, who said he saw Khan hold a glass full with a colourless liquid like water.

Ramashray Pandey, owner of a dairy near the spot, who said he saw the actor get out of the car’s front side.

Balashankar, chemical analyst, who claimed Khan’s blood tested positive for alcohol.

Witnesses who testified against Salman Khan

RTO inspector R S Kesarkar, who had examined the actor's vehicle.

Dr Suhas Pawar, former medical officer of JJ Hospital, who extracted blood from Khan.

Kalpesh Verma, parking assistant, J W Marriott, who allegedly saw Khan sitting in the driver’s seat when the car was stationary. But Khan said that he was sitting in the driver's seat, with the a/c on, as he was waiting for his driver to arrive.

57-year-old cop, Bapu Borade, who took the blood samples of the accused to the forensic lab.

Witnesses who testified in favour of Salman Khan

Francis Fernandes, who lived near the spot, said he knew Khan since childhood and did not smell alcohol on him.

Sachin Kadam, a security guard at Neelsagar, a restaurant opposite the accident spot, who told the court that he neither saw Khan alight from the car nor did he see him run away.

Alok (Chiky) Pandey, brother of actor Chunkey Pandey, who said he had hugged the actor when he met him at his house at 9.30am on September 28, 2002, and that Salman did not then smell of alcohol.