Mumbai, Sept 09: Film actor Salman Khan has urged a sessions court to transfer the hit-and-run case to a magistrate for trial in view of Mumbai High Court dropping the charge of "culpable homicide not amounting to murder" framed against him by a lower court. Salman's lawyer Dipesh Mehta moved a petition in this regard yesterday before principal judge A K Dholakia who will give his ruling tomorrow.

The actor is expected to appear before the court tomorrow as on the last occasion the judge had pulled him up for not appearing and sternly warned that his absence would not be accepted on the next date. Salman had rammed his vehicle into a bakery on September 28 last year killing one person and injuring four others. Initially, he was charged with rash and negligent driving but due to public outcry the state charged him with more serious offence of culpable homicide not amounting to murder.

Rash and negligent driving attracts maximum two years imprisonment and is tried by a magistrate while culpable homicide not amounting to murder provides for maximum ten years jail term and is tried by a sessions court. In view of the high court dropping the latter charge, Salman has moved a sessions court seeking transfer of the case to a magistrate.
Bureau Report