Salman Khan 2002 hit-and-run case: Prosecution to cite Alistair Pereira verdict

Mumbai: In order to justify the serious charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder, the prosecution in the 2002 hit-and-run case allegedly involving Bollywood actor Salman Khan Wednesday said it will Thursday dwell on the 2006 Alistair Pereira case.

Pereira, a Mumbai youth and son of a rich businessman, had run his car over people under the influence of liquor resulting in the death of seven persons and injuries to eight.

The Pereira case is a landmark one as far as drunken driving and hit-and-run incidents are concerned, he said.

"I am going to cite the Alistair Pereira hit-and-run case," Special Public Prosecutor Pradeep Gharat told sessions judge D W Deshpande during final arguments here.

"There are similarities in these two cases....I would be citing this and some other cases," he added.

Pereira, then 21, an engineer by qualification, ran his car over 15 construction workers sleeping on a pavement in suburban Bandra on November 12, 2006.

The sessions court awarded him only six months' imprisonment. However, the Bombay High Court took suo moto cognisance and awarded him three years' imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 5 lakh.

Pereira challenged the sentence in the Supreme Court which rejected the plea. He was convicted under section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and section 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety) of IPC.

Khan, 49, is facing trial for ramming his SUV into a bakery in suburban Bandra on September 28, 2002, killing one person and injuring four who were sleeping outside.