Bollywood star John Abraham who has been sentenced to 15 days simple imprisonment by a local court in a 2006 rash driving case, says he will appeal against the verdict. "I am a law abiding citizen. I will be appealing this verdict and will go to every length to have this verdict appealed. I am advised that I have a good chance of succeeding the appeal," John, 37, said in a statement last night.
The actor said he decided to make a statement because as a public figure he did not want to send a wrong message.
"Only because I am a public figure and in all modesty I do have a large youth interaction who look to me for guidance and leadership and inspiration and I don't want them to feel or take away that when wronged we do not fight for what is right," the actor said.
He said although he has the highest regards for the country's judicial system, he felt compelled to make a personal clarification. He maintained that he was not commenting in anyway on any judicial view.
The Bandra Magistrate court on Thursday held the actor guilty of an offence of rash and negligent driving and awarded him the sentence but immediately released him on bail of Rs 1500 and imposed a fine of the same amount on him.
Abraham's motorbike had skidded and knocked down two persons in suburban Khan on April 7, 2006. He himself then took the injured persons - Shyam Kasbe and Tanmay Majhi - to the hospital. The duo was discharged later.
{{/usCountry}}Abraham's motorbike had skidded and knocked down two persons in suburban Khan on April 7, 2006. He himself then took the injured persons - Shyam Kasbe and Tanmay Majhi - to the hospital. The duo was discharged later.
{{/usCountry}}The actor too was injured in the accident.