Salman Khan

The story of corporate lawyer Janhavi Gadkar allegedly killing two men in a taxi while she was driving her Audi drunkenly down the wrong side of a Mumbai highway is deeply tragic and troubling, in many ways.

The criminal trial against actor Salman Khan, who allegedly killed a pavement dweller when driving while drunk more than a decade ago, has hit a new roadblock with the police telling the court that its case diaries have disappeared. In addition, only seven out of 63 original witness statements were traceable, though true copies still existed. The documents were lost, according to the police, after the case was moved out of the magistrate’s court to the sessions court, after the magistrate decided that the higher court would have to examine a culpable homicide not amounting to murder charge.

Khan’s defence lawyer srikant Shivade argued that only original witness statements could be used in court; the prosecution claimed that true copies would suffice, reported the PTI.

The Supreme Court yesterday asked actor Salman Khan to reply to the Rajasthan government’s challenge to the stay on his conviction for shooting and killing a blackbuck, reported the TOI.

Khan was charged under Section 51 of the Wildlife Protection Act.

The culpable homicide retrial of Bollywood megastar Salman Khan began today in a Mumbai sessions court over his allegedly running over several pavement dwellers while drunk, killing one, in 2002. The prosecution might call up to 64 witnesses, of whom the first appeared today.

A magistrate in an earlier trial of causing death by negligence, had ordered the retrial after hearing some evidence that a charge of culpable homicide was made out. [PTI]

No say on NSA: The Supreme Court today asked Ex-Delhi University law professor SN Singh to bring evidence on Friday (28 June) of violation of fundamental rights of internet users. His PIL alleges that nine US-based internet companies in India are sharing user data with the National Security Agency (NSA) without the consent of Indian users. The bench said: “Our jurisdiction is not over the entire world. American people and government is not covered under Article 21.” [PTI]

Indo-Bangla judicial overreach: The Bangladesh Supreme Court’s most senior judge, Surendra Kumar Sinha, impressed with India’s state and national judicial academies for lower and higher judiciary, asked for Indian judges’ assistance in training his country’s quota-bridled judiciary [TOI]

Dodging PILs: Karnataka high court imposed a total cost of Rs 75,000 on three different advocates who had brought their own public interest litigations (PIL), dimissing their PILs saying that “this will not bring them any credibility” [Deccan Herald]

Can be jailed: Mumbai Sessions Judge, U B Hejib rejected Bollywood actor Salman Khan’s plea against a Bandra Magistrate Court’s order that had enhanced the charges levelled against him in his 11-year old rash driving case. Khan will now be tried under Section 304 (ii) for culpable homicide and could be sentenced to 10 years jail [DNA]

Social media GCs: Facebook general counsel Ted Ullyot and Twitter legal director Nicole Wong are on their way out of the two social media websites. Facebook has promoted deputy general counsel Colin Stretch to the position, while Wong is joining the White House to advise on internet and privacy policies [Global Legal Post/GLP]

Women-centric Karnataka courts: The Karnataka government will soon set up 10 special courts exclusively to try cases relating to atrocities and crimes against women, according to state home minister KJ George’s Tuesday announcement [Deccan Herald]

The criminal charges against Bollywood superstar Salman Khan have been increased to culpable homicide by the Bandra metropolitan magistrate, the Mumbai Mirror reported today.

The paper also included a good potted history of the more than 10-year-long trial against the actor who allegedly killed a number of pavement dwellers in Mumbai driving while intoxicated. [Mumbai Mirror]

Reportedly the case was used by arguing counsel in another drink driving case in 2010 to avoid the culpable homicide charge.