Actor Salman Khan broke down as the judge at the Bombay high court pronounced the order acquitting him of all charges in the 2002 hit-and-run case.
Khan , who was present along with members of his family, was overcome with emotion when he was set free after a 13-year court battle.
Pronouncing the order on Thursday, Justice A R Joshi said, “The prosecution has failed to prove any charges against Salman Khan.”
The actor, who wore a blue-white check shirt, was asked by the judge to be in court in the afternoon while the verdict was read.
He arrived under heavy security with lawyers, litigants and many others gathering in and around the court to have a glimpse of the Bollywood superstar.
The court said there was not enough evidence to prove that Khan was drunk or driving his car when it rammed into the pavement in suburban Bandra on September 28, 2002, killing one person and injuring four others. The prosecution later said it will go in appeal.
{{/usCountry}}The court said there was not enough evidence to prove that Khan was drunk or driving his car when it rammed into the pavement in suburban Bandra on September 28, 2002, killing one person and injuring four others. The prosecution later said it will go in appeal.
{{/usCountry}}“The appeal filed by Salman Salim Khan is allowed. He is acquitted of all charges against him. His conviction and sentence stand quashed,” said Justice A R Joshi, pronouncing the judgement.
Hearing this, Khan lowered his head, sighed, and then looked up again at the judge from the witness box.
After pronouncing the verdict, Justice Joshi left the court following which Salman came out of the witness box and mingled with his family and lawyers.
As his lawyers scrambled around to finish the legal formalities, Khan was seen reclining against the wall and humming a song. Overcome with emotions, he broke down, following which Shera, the actor’s bodyguard for many years, walked up to Salman and asked him to turn his face to the wall so people do not see him cry.
His sister Alvira, who could not stop smiling, flashed a thumbs up sign at the reporters.
Mintutes after leaving the court in Mumbai, Salman tweeted that he accepted the decision of the judiciary with humility.