SC issues notice to Salman Khan in accident case

New Delhi, Feb 19  The Supreme court on Friday issued notice to filmstar Salman Khan on the Maharashtra government's petition challenging a Bombay High Court verdict acquitting him in a 2002 accident case.

Issuing notice returnable in six weeks, an apex court bench comprising Justice Jagjit Singh Khehar and Justice C. Nagappan told Salman Khan that "it would be much, much better if he gets acquittal from this court as it will save him from all the repercussions".

Senior counsel Kapil Sibal, appearing for Salman Khan, took the court through the proceedings of the trial court, contending that his conviction was based on the testimony of one person, which cannot be relied upon.

He said besides that there was no other evidence before the trial court to convict Salman Khan in the case.

However, Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi that besides the sole witness being pointed to by Sibal, there were scores of other witnesses at the accident spot who saw Salman Khan in the driver's seat of the vehicle that ran over a group of people sleeeping on a pavement, killing one of them.