During the hearing of Salman Khan’s hit and run case, Mr. Rohatgi, Attorney General, submitted that the statement of Ravindra Patil (PW1) has been deemed ‘not wholly reliable’ because in the FIR, he did not say that Salman Khan was drunk. It was submitted that an FIR is information, not an encyclopedia. The statement of Ravindra Patil was read that in which it was stated that there were three people in the car.
The Judges asked Kapil Sibbal to give a preview of the defense. He submitted that when the accident happened, there were three people in the car: Kamaal Khan, Salman Khan and Ravindra Patil. Kamaal Khan was summoned twice, but he never appeared. Patil’s statement is not reliable and then, only witness of Salman Khan remains. The incident took place at 2.45 AM, but the FIR was lodged at 5.45 AM. In 2006, Patil said in his statement that he had asked Salman Khan not to drive, since he was drunk.
Now, Patil was police personnel, and the first thing he would have lodged in the FIR was that Salman Khan was drunk. Besides, the enquiry officer stated that he had interrogated Salman’s driver Ashok Singh, but he didn’t record his statement. Salman’s blood was first taken to Baba hospital for testing, but there was no facility for this examination. After that, his blood was taken to JJ Hospital. Blood sample was sent to police station and not the lab. Salman gave 6 ml of blood, but only 4 ml reached the lab.
A separate petition has been filed on behalf of the victims. Court has issued notice. Matter returnable after 6 weeks.