By Apurva Bhatt

A sessions court will pronounce the judgment in the 2002 alleged hit and run case involving actor Salman Khan on may 6 Judge D W Deshpande announced the date before a packed court room today.

Salman has been facing trial since nearly 13 years in the accident case in Bandra, in the early hours of September 28, 2002, which left one pavement dweller dead and four others injured. Nurullah Mehboob Sharif succumbed to his injuries and four others – Munna Malai Khan, Kalim Mohammed Pathan, Abdullah Rauf Shaikh and Muslim Sheikh were injured.

Salman was charged under Indian Penal Code (IPC) Section 304 II (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) which attracts upto 10 years in prison; Section 279 (rash and negligent driving) which stipulates six months jail; Section 337 and 338 (causing hurt by act endangering life & causing grievous hurt) with punishment upto two years; Section 427 (mischief causing damage to property) with maximum punishment of upto two years.Also, Motor Vehicle Act, Section 34 (a), (b) read with 181 (driving vehicle in contravention of rules) and 185 (driving at great speed after consuming alcohol with punishment of cancellation of driving license; and sections of the Bombay Prohibition Act dealing with diving under influence of alcohol which attract maximum six months in jail.

The announcement follows the culmination of a trial that commenced in April last year. Khan will have to be present on the day of judgement.