Hit-and-run case: Salman's statement to be recorded from Friday

Mumbai, March 24 (IANS) A sessions court here on Tuesday directed Bollywood actor Salman to record his statement on the prosecution evidence in the 2002 hit-and-run case retrial from March 27.

Sessions Judge D.W. Deshpande passed the order after discussing it with prosecutor Pradeep Gharat and Salman's lawyer Shrikant Shivade.

The actor's statement will be recorded under the Criminal Procedure Code's Section 313, in which he will be able to put his side of the story.

One person was killed and four others were injured when the vehicle ran over some pavement dwellers early hours of September 28, 2002 outside a bakery in suburban Bandra.

The court would take the opportunity to question Salman on various aspects of the trial, while the actor will be able to put up his defence to the evidences produced before the court by prosecution.

Till date, around 25 witnesses have given evidence in the case, while the case investigation officer Kishan Shengal is currently deposing before the court.

Salman, who was not present in the court on Tuesday, was arrested soon after the accident and later the case was tried before a magistrate's court for charges of rash and negligent driving, attracting a two year jail sentence.

However, a fresh trial was ordered after the enhanced charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder was invoked, which stipulates a 10-year-long sentence.