Salman Khan convicted: Not shirking duty, will pay more to victims, says defence

From compensation for victims, the work his NGO does for the needy to the medical help he has offered to 700 children suffering from heart ailments – actor Salman Khan’s lawyer Shrikant Shivde tried using all arguments possible to get the quantum of punishment reduced, after Khan was held guilty on all counts on Wednesday.

From compensation for victims, the work his NGO does for the needy to the medical help he has offered to 700 children suffering from heart ailments – actor Salman Khan’s lawyer Shrikant Shivde tried using all arguments possible to get the quantum of punishment reduced, after Khan was held guilty on all counts on Wednesday.

Shivde said Khan had paid Rs 19 lakh compensation to victims and would pay more, if ordered by the court. “We are not running away from responsibility,” Shivde said, requesting the court for a sentence of less than three years and seeking time to pay the fine.

Stating that sentencing the actor beyond three years will not serve any purpose, Shivde said the actor was one of the trustees of the NGO Being Human and his organisation has disbursed help to the tune of at least Rs42 crore to the needy. Shivde said Khan’s public service should be taken into account while sentencing him.

The lawyer also produced a balance sheet before the court, which stated the actor had supported 700 children suffering from heart ailments since 2007. The lawyer said the children would suffer, if Khan was sent to jail. Khan's lawyer also told the court the actor was suffering from a nerve disorder, and his condition would worsen in jail.

Referring to the judgments by the apex court, Shivde said the circumstances in this case are not like those of Alistair Pereira and Sanjeev Nanda, where although the crime was grave, the punishment was not very harsh.

Shivde said the trial was delayed not because of the actor, but because the prosecution came up with the application to invoke 304 Part II at a much later stage.

Special public prosecutor Pradeep Gharat, however, demanded maximum punishment as the actor was found guilty under all charges, so it could act as a deterrent.