Witness turns hostile in Salman Khan hit-and-run case

"My statement recorded by police that I saw Salman coming out from the driver's seat and running away from the spot is incorrect," the witness, Sachin Kadam, a security guard of NeelSagar Hotel, told Judge D W Deshpande. 

"My statement recorded by police that I saw Salman coming out from the driver's seat and running away from the spot is incorrect," said the witness, Sachin Kadam.

A witness in the 2002 hit-and-run case involving Salman Khan retracted his police statement in a court, saying he had not said that the actor had got down from the driver’s seat of his vehicle and ran away after the accident occurred in suburban Bandra.

“My statement recorded by police that I saw Salman coming out from the driver’s seat and running away from the spot is incorrect,” the witness, Sachin Kadam, a security guard of NeelSagar Hotel, told Judge D W Deshpande.

Earlier, the witness had told police in a statement that he had seen the actor getting down from the driver’s seat of his car and going away from the scene of the mishap.

Kadam said he had only told the police that a big car came and rammed into the shutter of a shop. Kadam was today confronted with his police statement but he went back on his own words saying he had not told the police about this.

However, the witness was unable to say why the police had recorded a “false version” in his statement. Public prosecutor Jagannath Kenjralkar told the court that Kadam should be declared as a hostile witness as he had not supported the prosecution. However, the court has yet to pass order on this plea.

During cross-examination, the witness told Salman’s lawyer Srikant Shivade that he had not seen the accident as he was on duty on that day at the gate of the restaurant. “I heard a loud noise and only then I went there to see that a car had rammed into a shop,” he said.

NeelSagar Hotel, where he works, is just opposite to the bakery and laundry where Salman Khan’s car had met with an accident on September 28, 2002, in which one person was killed and four others injured.

Another witness, Mohammed Shaikh, who was one of those injured in the mishap, however, supported the prosecution’s case saying he had seen Salman standing at the accident spot after he was rescued from underneath the car by people.

“I saw Salman after I was rescued. There were two more people but I did not recognise them. It was a big white car,” said the witness.

Shaikh said he was sleeping with Narullah and others outside a bakery shop when the car ran over them and hit the shutter. He was admitted to Bhabha hospital with a fractured leg and over there he learnt that Narullah had died in the mishap
.

Salman Khan’s 'rakhi' sister to get married in Goa

Salman Khan

'O Teri' actor Pulkit Samrat is all geared up to marry Salman Khan's rakhi sister, Shweta Rohira in November. Though there have been rumours about his wedding for some time, the actor has decided to make it official now.

A Mid-Day report says the actor is planning a destination wedding in Goa in the first week of November this year. While sources say the actor is already married to Shweta and that is the reason Salman is promoting Pulkit, others allege that he will marry this year.

ALSO READ: Salman bhai is my brother-in-law: Pulkit Samrat

Quoting a source, the report adds that Pulkit is planning his wedding and other functions in Goa and Salman's family has reportedly offered to lend him a helping hand. Atul Agnihotri has been coordinating various things on behalf of Pulkit.

ALSO READ: I try not to disappoint Salman Khan: Pulkit Samrat

Shweta met Pulkit when she went to interview him for his role as Lakshya in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi. Since then they fell in love. She has seen his struggle and has also written a book on his journey to stardom.

Shahrukh Khan to Beat Salman Khan's Kick Fad? Chennai Express Star Plans Exceptional Strategies to Promote Happy New Year

Shahrukh Khan, the king of Bollywood, is all set to tame Salman Khan's Kick fad as he is planning big and extraordinary promotional campaigns for his upcoming movie Happy New Year.

The recently released trailer of 'Kick' starring the Dabangg star went viral on Youtube. The trailer has garnered accolades from fans and critics for its high-octane action sequences.

Salman's movie will release during Eid celebrations while SRK is planning a Diwali release for his upcoming movie.

The Chennai Express star has reportedly asked the cast members to remain available for two months prior to the premiere of his upcoming movie.

Khan, best known for his unique marketing strategies, plans to have a series of exceptional events to promote his movies as he will be facing a tough challenge from the other two Khans of Bollywood.

"Shahrukh has asked all the cast to keep their diaries free for two months from all engagements. None of us are allowed to shoot for any film during August and September this year," a cast member from the movie Happy New Year told One India.

"Nobody knows what's ahead of them in those shows but Shahrukh will be taking the cast of the film to the streets in various cities of the US and Canada to perform. Large numbers of crowds are expected knowing the SRK magnitude," the same source added.

Apart from Salman's movie Kick, perfectionist Amir Khan's movie P.K. is also slated for a year end premiere.

Known for delivering big blockbusters, Shahrukh and Salman will fight a close battle this year and it will be interesting to see whose movie will create box office magic.

Apart from King Khan, the movie also stars Deepika Padukone and Abhishek Bachchan. Khan's long time friend Farah Khan is directing the movie.

Hit-and-run case: Unsure if Salman Khan was drunk, bar manager tells court

MUMBAI: A witness, the manager of the bar that actor Salman Khan had visited on the night of the 2002 hit and run incident identified the accused but said he is was not sure whether the actor had taken drinks. The witness was on of the two who testified in court this morning in the presence of Khan and a packed courtroom. 

The prosecution's case is that the actor had taken drinks in "Rain Bar" along with his friends and was allegedly under the influence of liquor on September 28, 2002, when his car rammed into a bakery in suburban Bandra killing one person and injuring four others.

"Salman's group had ordered drinks and snacks but I am not sure whether Salman had consumed drinks himself as the order had been taken by a waiter and not me," Rizwan, who was the manager of Rain Bar at the relevant time, told the court of sessions judge DW Deshpande. 

As the restaurant was full, Salman and his brother Sohail Khan were standing in front of service counter. After some time they occupied a table and ordered drinks and snacks, Rizwan said during examination.

"I saw Salman holding a glass but it was full with a colourless liquid like water," said the Manager.

Asked if it was liquor, Rizwan said he was not sure because the order had been taken down by a waiter.Salman Khan escorted by policemen and bodyguards as he prepares to get into a car after a court appearance in Bombay, 06 October 2003. (Getty Images photo)

Rizwan further said that he had escorted the group to the main door of the restaurant when they were leaving the bar between 1.15am to 1.30am.

"However, Salman was not smelling of liquor and he was also walking like a normal person," said the manager in reply to a question put by prosecutor Jagannath Kenjralkar. Rizwan was shown bills of the particular table which was occupied by Salman and his group. He identified the bills saying that these belonged to Rain Bar.


Salman Khan leaves session in Mumbai court on May 6, 2014. (Getty Images photo)

During cross-examination by Salman's lawyer Srikant Shivade, Rizwan said that from his cabin he could not see who was standing at the counter as the lights in the restaurant were dim. He further said it is not possible to say who was consuming drinks and having snacks.

Earlier a waiter of the same bar had identified Salman coming to the restaurant with friends. He had also said that he had not noticed the actor consuming drinks, although his group had ordered.



Both these witnesses were examined by the prosecution to convince the court that the actor had consumed drinks before the mishap on the ill-fated day.

he actor is being tried under section 304 (II) ( culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Indian Penal Code, the maximum sentence for which is ten years imprisonment. One person was killed and four others injured in the mishap. Khan had been accused of causing death and injury by driving under the influence of alcohol.

Salman Khan escorted by policemen and bodyguards as he prepares to get into a car after a court appearance in Bombay, 06 October 2003. (Getty Images photo)

Rizwan further said that he had escorted the group to the main door of the restaurant when they were leaving the bar between 1.15am to 1.30am.

"However, Salman was not smelling of liquor and he was also walking like a normal person," said the manager in reply to a question put by prosecutor Jagannath Kenjralkar. Rizwan was shown bills of the particular table which was occupied by Salman and his group. He identified the bills saying that these belonged to Rain Bar.


Salman Khan leaves session in Mumbai court on May 6, 2014. (Getty Images photo)

During cross-examination by Salman's lawyer Srikant Shivade, Rizwan said that from his cabin he could not see who was standing at the counter as the lights in the restaurant were dim. He further said it is not possible to say who was consuming drinks and having snacks.

Earlier a waiter of the same bar had identified Salman coming to the restaurant with friends. He had also said that he had not noticed the actor consuming drinks, although his group had ordered.



Both these witnesses were examined by the prosecution to convince the court that the actor had consumed drinks before the mishap on the ill-fated day.

he actor is being tried under section 304 (II) ( culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Indian Penal Code, the maximum sentence for which is ten years imprisonment. One person was killed and four others injured in the mishap. Khan had been accused of causing death and injury by driving under the influence of alcohol.

Is Shahrukh Khan afraid of Salman Khan’s ‘Kick’?

It has been 6 days, and Kick is about to cross 8 Million views on YouTube. On the other side, Shahrukh Khanhas announced the first phase of promotions for his next ‘Happy New Year’ releasing this Diwali. Just a poster of Happy New Year is released by Shahrukh Khan. After her last film (Tees Maar Khan) being a debacle, Farah Khan is back on director’s seat with Happy New Year. Now with ‘Kick‘ accumulating major buzz, Shahrukh Khan knows how to draw the attention. When it comes to promotion, there rarely is someone who knows how to better King Khan.

Shahrukh Khan, desperate to get on the top of the list, has made extensive plans for the promotions of Happy New Year. “Shahrukh has asked all of us to keep two months, August and September completely free of all other engagements. None of us is allowed to shoot for any film during those two months.” says the fellow buddy of Shahrukh Khan from Happy New Year.

This year, the Khan trio will have one release each. While Salman Khan has revealed his cards, now the next to show is Shahrukh Khan. The ‘3 idiots’ team will be back with PK this December, starring Aamir Khan and Anushka Sharma. Without releasing a single thing, Aamir Khan’s ‘PK’ have amassed huge buzz among the public. As Sharukh Khan’s Happy New Year will release midst ‘Kick’ and ‘PK’, he is ready with his brand new promotion techniques.

Shahrukh Khan has announced road shows in US and Canada, along with the entire cast of Happy New Year. Free road shows will instill more popularity to Sharukh’s account. There were no signs of Happy New Year’s promotion till the Kick trailer launched. But now, it seems Shahrukh is ready to draw some huge attention towards his next. Is this because he is afraid of Kick grossing more than Happy New Year, or he his genuinely plotting his promotions.

Leave your precious thoughts in the comments section below.

FIFA World Cup: I was not hurt by Lionel Messi’s comment, says Alejandro Sabella

Four-times world player of the year Lionel Messi may not be deciding Argentina’s team tactics but his criticism is crucial and welcome, coach Alejandro Sabella said on Friday.

Messi was critical of Argentina’s first-half defensive formation in their World Cup opener against Bosnia despite a 2-1 win but those post-match comments were welcomed, Sabella said.

“I was not hurt by Leo’s comment and he has said that before,” the Argentine told reporters ahead of Saturday’s Group F game against Iran. “He likes to play 4-3-3 with (Angel) Di Maria up front”

“They (reporters) asked him how he likes to play and he answered what he thinks in a respectful way. We respect each other, we have a very strong team spirit. It is good to have an open dialogue with my players.

“Sometimes players learn from us (coaches) and sometimes we learn from them.”

Sabella surprisingly opted to play an extra defender in Hugo Campagnaro and sacrificed forward Gonzalo Higuain against World Cup debutants Bosnia and the result was a flat first half display that belied Argentine’s status among the tournament favourites.

He changed tactics at halftime, with his players feeding Messi more and the Argentine scoring in the 65th to put them two goals ahead.

Sabella confirmed that would also be the way he would start against Iran, who drew 0-0 in their opener against Nigeria.

“We can all make mistakes you know. Tomorrow (Saturday) we will start with a 4-3-3 formation and we will take it from there. We may have to change the formation or not.

“I am the one who told Messi to go (to the news conference after the Bosnia game) and I fully trust all my players from a human and professional standpoint,” the coach said.

“We have a two-way street in our dialogue because if you don’t let them say what they want to say then you won’t get the best out of them.”

Holland come from behind to beat brave Australia in Group B classic

Holland forward Memphis Depay, right, celebrates after scoring his team's third goal against Australia. Photograph: Luis Acosta/AFP/Getty Images

Louis van Gaal had complained beforehand about his view from the dugout, but for long periods of this wonderful match the Holland manager must have wished he was unable to see anything. Australia, the lowest ranked team at the World Cup, gave Holland one hell of a scare and can count themselves bitterly unlucky to leave Porto Alegre with nothing to show for their efforts.

Ange Postecoglou promised that his players would take the game to Holland and the Australia coach was true to his word. Inspired by the evergreen Tim Cahill, whose breathtaking first-half volley will be remembered as one of the classic World Cup goals, Australia played without fear and made life far more uncomfortable for Van Gaal and his players than they could ever have imagined.

For Holland, the overwhelming emotion at the final whistle must have been one of relief, even if Van Gaal insisted that was not the case. They have racked up eight goals in two matches – Robin van Persie and Arjen Robben have scored six of them – and have already earned their passage into the second round, thanks to Spain’s defeat later in the day.

The Dutch were able to celebrate their second win at these finals in the company of the king and queen of Holland, who posed for photographs in the dressing room afterwards. But this was a far from convincing performance from the Dutch.

The defining moment in the match came midway through the second half when Mathew Leckie, who caused Holland no end of problems with his pace on the right flank, looked poised to put Australia 3-2 in front, only to chest the ball gently into the grateful arms of Jasper Cillessen, the Dutch goalkeeper. “I said to Danny Blind and Patrick Kluivert [the Holland coaching staff], if they miss an opportunity like that, we’re going to take it,” Van Gaal said.

And so they did, thanks to a moment that Mathew Ryan, the Australia goalkeeper, will have nightmares about. Memphis Depay, a first-half substitute for Bruno Martins Indi, who was taken to hospital with suspected concussion following a clumsy challenge from Cahill that earned the Australian a booking and a suspension for the final game, strode forward and thumped a swerving shot from 25 yards that Ryan looked to have covered – only for the ball to find the corner of the net via his fingertips.

Holland saw the game out, but this felt like a reality check on the back of their 5-1 victory over Spain in Salvador last Friday, and prompted fresh questions about Van Gaal’s tactics. The Holland manager had decided to retain the 5-3-2 system that worked so effectively against Spain but he reverted to 4-3-3 at the interval after losing Martins Indi and accepting that something had to change to enable his players to get a grip on a game that Australia were controlling in the first half.

Tim Cahill and Arjen Robben shake hands at the end of the game. Photograph: Fernando Vergara/AP

“Fortunately it turned out OK, but it could just as well have turned out differently,” said Van Gaal, who lamented the way in which Holland gave possession away so carelessly in the first half. “In the second half we created more opportunities. I really have to congratulate the team, compliments to them, because the way we came from behind was incredible. I never want to put any individual in the limelight, but the way in which Nigel de Jong took the lead was impressive.”

Holland’s opening goal came totally against the run of play, albeit via a predictable source. Daley Blind’s header released Robben on the halfway line and the Bayern Munich forward skipped away from Matthew Spiranovic’s wild and desperate lunge. There was only going to be one winner and one outcome. Going through the gears in the inside-left channel, Robben sprinted into the area and drilled a low left-footed shot across goal and into the far corner of the net.

What followed 70 seconds later was remarkable, but no more than Australia deserved. Ryan McGowan floated a perfectly weighted 40-yard diagonal pass into the path of Cahill, who struck a sumptuous left-footed volley that clipped the underside of the bar and bounced over the line. It was Cahill’s fifth World Cup goal and a moment of brilliance.

Mark Bresciano and Spiranovic both had chances to put Australia ahead before Mile Jedinak converted from the spot in the 54th minute after Daryl Janmaat was adjudged to have handled. Holland were on the back foot, but within five minutes Van Persie, who will be suspended for the final group match against Chile after picking up another booking, registered his third goal of the tournament with a vicious shot into the roof of the net.

Then came Leckie’s miss and Ryan’s blunder, leaving Australia crestfallen. “I’m heartbroken,” Postecoglou said. “I just wanted the players to get reward. I put a lot of pressure on, saying we’d take the game to world class opposition, but it’s one thing saying it and another doing it. They did it today and didn’t get reward.”

He added: “Maty is very disappointed, he’s distraught. But it’s not about one player costing us the game. I thought collectively we were outstanding. We did everything we needed to do today bar win a game.”