RTO fabricated report on car, says Salman’s lawyer

The actor’s lawyers have been maintaining that Khan’s driver crashed the car after the front left tyre burst, making steering and braking difficult

The regional transport authority fabricated its report to suggest the tyres of Salman Khan’s car were in good condition even after the accident to “suit the prosecution’s theory”, the actor’s lawyer told the Bombay high court on Wednesday.

In September 2002, actor Salman Khan’s Toyota Land Cruiser crashed into a bakery in Bandra, killing one and injuring four others who were sleeping on a pavement. (File photo)

The actor’s lawyers have been maintaining that Khan’s driver crashed the car after the front left tyre burst, making steering and braking difficult. Khan’s lawyer Amit Desai told the HC that Khan’s driver Ashok Singh had testified that the left tyre of the car had burst. Several other witnesses, including the prosecution’s star witness Ravindra Patil, too, had confirmed it. However, the RTO report said all tyres were found in good condition the next morning, but the front left tyre too was slightly “deflated due to less air”.

“After the accident, the car could not be driven to the Bandra police station, which is just about eight minutes away from the spot, because its tyres were damaged. A crane had to take the car to the police station. However, the RTO claims to have taken the car on a half an hour long test drive the next morning. How is this possible,” Desai asked, adding the police panchnama mentioned the tyre was punctured after the incident.