Salman Khan hit-and-run: All that happened that night

On the intervening night of September 27 and 28 in 2002, Salman Khan’s Land Cruiser crashed into American Express bakery in Bandra, killing one person and injuring four. Verdict has been announced in the 13-year-old hit-and-run-case and the Bollywood superstar has been sentenced to five years in jail. Here’s a recap of what happened on that unfortunate night and how Salman has tried to defend himself in the case…

September 27, 2002

9:30 pm

Salman Khan and Kamaal Khan leave Salman’s residence, Galaxy Apartments for Rain Bar, Juhu. The two, along with Salman’s bodyguard, constable Ravindra Patil, reach the bar in a Toyota Land Cruiser with the registration number MH 01 DA 32, and Patil is asked to wait outside. Patil is accompanied by Sohail Khan’s bodyguard outside the bar. As per a statement given by Patil, Salman was at the wheel.

Salman’s version: His driver Altaf was at the wheel

September 28, 2002

1:30 am

Salman and Kamaal come out of the bar. Salman takes the driver’s seat while Patil sits next to him. Kamaal sits in the rear. The three of them drive to JW Marriot Hotel. Salman and Kamaal go inside the hotel while Ravindra Patil is again asked to wait outside. In a statement given before Magistrate Court, Patil said that Salman was at the wheel.

Salman’s version: His driver Altaf was at the wheel

2:15 am

Salman and Kamaal come out of the hotel. Salman again takes the driver’s seat and Patil, seated right next to him, asks him if he would be driving the car, but is ignored.

Salman's version: Since Altaf was unwell, he had to leave. He was sitting in the driver's seat with the A/C on, waiting for the second driver, Ashok Singh, to arrive. As soon as Singh arrived, he moved to the seat next to the driver's. Kamaal sat behind him and Patil sat behind the driver.

Between 2:15 am and 2:45 am

Patil said that Salman was drunk and was driving at a speed of 90-100 km/hour. The car reaches St Andrew’s road. Before reaching the junction of Hill Road, Patil warns Salman to slow down as a right turn was approaching. Salman ignores him again. Soon, he loses control of the car in an attempt to take the turn and drives right on to the footpath. As per Patil’s statement, the car crashed into American Express bakery breaking its shutter.

Salman's version: The car was being driven only at a speed of 30 km/hour by driver Ashok Singh. The car came to Hill Road via Manuel Gonsalves Road. The road is parallel to St Andrew's Road and it meets Hill Road before St Andrew's Road.

ALL THAT HAPPENED POST-CRASH

2:45 am onwards

Salman Khan comes out of the car from the front right side door.

Salman's version: The front left door was jammed, so he had to come out from the right side.

There is a lot of shouting as people gather around the car. The car's windshield is damaged as crowd begins to pelt stones. Patil shows the crowd his identity card to appease them. Salman and Kamaal run away from the spot. Patil goes to the car to see one person in a seriously injured state and the other four being stuck under the car. According to his statement, he immediately called the police control room and lodged an FIR with the Bandra police.

Salman's version: He was at the spot for at least 15 minutes and went away only when a friend in the crowd, Francis Fernandes (Commander), instructed him to do so fearing for his life as the crowd was armed with rods and stones. Fernandes took Salman away from the mob, and his wife stopped a car. Salman sat in the car and left the place. He also asked his driver Ashok Singh to call the police.

Investigating officer, Rajendra Kadam, reaches the spot at 2:50 am and sees five persons trapped beneath the car. As attempts to lift the car fail, a crane is called in. The crane tries to lift car by hooking on to its bumper. The bumper comes off and car slips. The crane is applied once again to finally remove the car.

Salman's version: Defence claims that the car slipping from the crane may have led to the sole death in the case, calling it a possibility.