The German military says it has rescued some 430 migrants in the Mediterranean in its first mission there that comes among stepped-up European Union efforts.

Yoga guru Ramdev today announced his plans to set up a university in Haryana, which will be established and controlled under his Haridwar-based Patanjali Yogpeeth.

The BJP government in Haryana today decided to set up an AYUSH university at Kurukshetra, Ramdev also informed that he too plans to set up another university in the state, without elaborating about it.

"The government will set up this university (at Kurukshetra), but we (under Patanjali) too will set up one. A resolution to this effect will be passed in the Haryana assembly soon," Ramdev told reporters this evening.

When asked if he will seek any help from Manohar Lal Khattar government for setting up the university, Ramdev said, "we will seek legal advice from government, but not any financial incentive."

Khattar, who was also present in the press conference along with Ramdev said, "Swami ji has multiple roles, one in which he runs his organisation like in Haridwar or in Haryana, the government will not have any role in this. He is Haryana's brand ambassador for promotion of Yoga and Ayurveda, a role which he has accepted and we are seeking his guidance and moving forward on this."

Just in: Indian Air Force's MiG-27 jet crashes near Alipurduar in West Bengal. The pilot was ejected safely, but  two people on ground have been killed.

Details awaited.

At least 50 persons were injured today, mostly policemen, when the dome over a stage being erected for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's public rally at Naya Raipur in Dantewada collapsed in severe storm, forcing cancellation of his engagements there.

"While the work was underway, suddenly the weather changed and a severe storm hit the place, damaging a portion of the dome which fell on the police personnel and workers present," Inspector General of Police G P Singh told PTI.

"Yes, the prime minister's events of Naya Raipur have been cancelled," he said.

The prime minister was scheduled to inaugurate an Indian Institute of Information Technology and Police headquarters, besides laying the foundation stone for construction of 40,000 affordable houses for the lower income group and economically weaker sections at Naya Raipur. Under the revised plan, Modi, after landing in Dantewada, will fly to Dantewada, worst-hit by naxalism, to take stock of socio-economic development initiatives and undertake a road journey of nearly 22 kilometres.

Before flying to Kolkata later in the day the prime minister will address a public meeting at Dantewada, considered a hub of Naxal activities.

The government today dropped its plans to bring the controversial land acquisition bill in Lok Sabha and has decided to take it up next week amid talks that it could be referred to joint committee of Parliament. The bill was last night listed for being taken up in the House today.

However, this morning it was removed from the list of business. With the NDA yet to resolve the issue of adequate numbers in Rajya Sabha to pass the bill as most non-NDA parties remaining opposed to it, the goverment is moving cautiously on the issue.

"It's a suggestion," a senior Union minister said when asked about the possibility of referring the land bill to a joint committee of Parliament after introduction. The government earlier had plans to bring the bill in Lok Sabha today as it was seeking to give another push to the controversial bill despite not having the numbers in the Upper House.

The bill, which was passed by Lok Sabha in March, could not be taken up in the Rajya Sabha following which the related Ordinance had to be re-promulgated after proroguing the Upper House. A copy of the re-promulgated ordinance was placed in the Lok Sabha on April 20 and in Rajya Sabha on April 23, the opening days of both the Houses in the second phase of the budget session.

India today successfully test-fired an advanced version of the BrahMos land-attack cruise missile from the Car Nicobar Islands as it revalidated the weapon's precision strike capability.

NCP President Sharad Pawar today strongly disapproved of "enthusiasm" shown by certain politicians in calling on Bollywood superstar Salman Khan at his residence after his conviction in the 2002 hit-and-run case. 

A case was registered today against Dera Saccha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim and his two aides for allegedly abducting a woman who had gone to his Sirsa ashram to attend the satsang, police said.

Hitting back at Rahul Gandhi for his attack on NDA government on farmers' issues and his proposed 'padayatra' in Telangana, state BJP today said the Congress Vice President should first talk about the farmers' suicides during 2004 to 2014, when Congress was in power.

Bollywood star Aamir Khan will be in Beijing early next week to attend the premiere of the Chinese version of "PK".

Meanwhile, in Raipur, a stage prepared for PM Modi's public rally collapses due to thundershowers, many injured.

Hundreds of Khan's anxious fans had collected outside the high court and the actor's Bandra residence since early morning and the mood was sullen. Police contingents in riot gear deployed in both places had a tough time regulating the crowds that waited with bated breath for a 'positive' outcome on Khan's appeal in the high court.


All's well that ends well for the Khans and their friends and family. Salman seen here with his parents, sister Alvira and brother Arbaaz, who is married to Malaika Arora. 

Salman waves to fans from his Galaxy Apartments home in Bandra.  On his wrist is the 'lucky' silver and turquoise bracelet he always wears gifted by his father Salim Khan. 

And so it ends. Salman Khan has reached his Bandra home at Galaxy Apartments in Bandra. The blinds are raised inside the house and Salman flanked by his parents Salma and Salim Khan, brothers Sohail and Arbaaz, sister Arpita, acknowledge the love of the fans waiting outside in the punishing heat for hours. He greeted them and gestured to leave. Fans in their hundreds have blocked both sides of the road leading to Galaxy Apartments. 

A thumbs up, a namaste, and the 48-hour Salman saga finally ends until June 15 when the court issues directions for the next step in the case.

Salman on the way home from court to friends and family. So, sentence suspended, bail given, 2 weeks to post bail bond of Rs 30,000 and no jail for now.

Hysteria outside Galaxy Apartments as police try to cordon off Salman's fans who line both sides of the road.

Salman's sister Alvira tells NDTV: We are happy, relieved he is a free man. 

OK, so Salman Khan is a free man... for a while. The actor left the court after signing the bail bond. He gets two weeks to furnish the bail bond amount of Rs 30,000. It was a blink and miss in court today. The actor stepped inside the sessions court and left almost immediately after shaking hands with cops and lawyers (a double-handed handshake and a hug) for the defence team that had gathered around him. Salman is now on his way home to Galaxy Apartments, Bandra.  

And another case that comes up for hearing on Monday...

The Karnataka high court will pronounce its verdict on former Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithas appeal against her conviction under the Prevention of Corruption Act by a Bangalore court in September 2014.

While the Supreme Court granted her bail in the case on October 17 last year, it also directed the high court to dispose of her appeals by April 18. Subsequently, this deadline was extended till May 12.

Salman's bail will continue while his appeal against the sentence is pending the court. 

The actor has to now furnish personal surety within two weeks.

So, what this means is that Salman will be free on bail, till his case comes up for hearing after June 15 when the court resumes after vacation. Salman has given an undertaking that he will abide by the conditions set in the bail order -- cannot leave the country unless he takes permission from the Bombay High Court. His passport is with the Bandra police station. 

Salman Khan notionally surrenders before the sessions court. Up next is the signing of the bail bond. Salman has now left the Sessions Court after signing the fresh bail bond and furnishing Rs 30,000 bail. 

Finally, Salman's lawyers arrive at Sessions court. Salman is expected to reach any time now. Salman to give undertaking that he will fulfill all the bail conditions. After signing the fresh bail bond and paying Rs 30,000, Salman will be free to go home. The High Court will give his team the next course of action to be followed on June 15. The case is not expected to come up for hearing before July, at the very earliest.

Hysteria outside the sessions court as Salman reaches. His driver Ashok Singh and bodyguard Shera are with him.

Farah Khan @FarahKhanAli apologises: And so, I would like to offer an UNCONDITIONAL apology for my tweets ref the homeless sleeping on the streets.

That comes after a district court in Muzaffarpur today ordered that an FIR be registered against the jewellery designer and singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya for their remarks against people sleeping on roads following the conviction of actor Salman Khan in the 2002 hit-and-run case.


The complainant had claimed that he had been hurt by the "derogatory" remarks of the singer which he saw on TV channels and read in newspapers.


In a series of tweets, Abhijeet had on May 6 said "Come out fraternity, support @BeingSalmanKhan boldly not hypocriticly Roads footpath r not meant 4 sleeping, not driver's or alcohol's fault (sic)." "Roads are meant for cars and dogs not for people sleeping on them." Jewellery designer and Salman's friend Farah Ali Khan had also sought to blame the homeless for the star's plight with comments like footpaths are not for sleeping.

Farah had tweeted: "The govt should be responsible for housing ppl. If no 1was sleeping on d road in any other country Salman wuld not have driven over anybody.  It's like penalising a train driver because someone decided to cross the tracks and got killed in the bargain. No one should be sleeping on the road or footpath. It is dangerous to do that just like it is dangerous to cross tracks. "

A man who has been cooling his heels in jail for over a year, may finally get bail.

Sahara has agreed to pay the full Rs 10,000 crore bail to release its jailed boss, Subrata Roy, Reuters reports.

CNBC TV18 reported Sahara would pay the amount it still owes by next week. Roy has been held in jail for more than a year after Sahara failed to comply with a court order to refund crores of rupees to investors in a bond programme that was ruled illegal. Sahara has in the past made several failed attempts to raise the bail money.

Ed Miliband concedes defeat and steps down as UK opposition leader.UK PM designate David Cameron, who is set for a second term, is on his way to meet the queen. Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulates Cameron on his re-election as British Prime Minister.

Dance choreographer Shiamak Davar (53) is denying allegations of sexual abuse outlined in BC Supreme Court suits filed this week by two dancers.


A lawsuit has been filed against Davar for allegedly sexually abusing two men from North Vancouver, Percy Shroff and Jimmy Mistry, reports The Province.


Reportedly, Davar has denied the charges and said, "I will not be intimidated into silence and will defend myself vigorously in court."


Davar, who has worked on the Commonwealth Games, dance sequences in Mission Impossible 4, is credited with introducing contemporary dance in India and has taught around the world.Some of the famous names he has associated with include Bryan Adams, Sting, Oprah Winfrey, Tom Cruise, Richard Gere, Will Smith and Stevie Wonder.


Mistry claims in his lawsuit that, He (Davar) would lie on the bed in his underwear and take someones hand, including the plaintiffs (Mistry's), and put it on his underwear over his penis ...


Shroff's suit mentions that Davar often kissed and touched him. Shroff says that once Davar called him and said "I know your secret". Shroff claims that he was made to shower with Davar once and other sexual advances were also made.

Rahul Gandhi today came under attack in Lok Sabha, with the government accusing him of "playing politics of deception" and "misleading" the House over a mega food park project in his constituency Amethi, evoking strong protests from Congress members.


"The project was cancelled on July 11, 2014.....Were you sleeping for 10 months? It is you who wants to resort to politics of revenge," Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur said, triggering loud cheers from the treasury benches and protests from Congress members who stormed the Well of the House.


Gandhi had yesterday attacked the government in the House over the food park, accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of practicing politics of revenge and not "politics of change" which he had promised.

Rahul Gandhi's or rather his office, tweets yet another spectacularly boring tweet. @OfficeOfRG  Rahul Gandhi will be meeting AICC Secretaries this evening at 5:30 pm.

Rahul debuted on Twitter on Tuesday night.

Nick Clegg will quit as Liberal Democrat leader, BBC reports.

Ed Miliband says he takes full responsibility for Labour's poor performance. "I've just thanked Labour's staff. They are a credit to our party, and, driven by a passion to serve, they are a credit to our country. '@Ed_Miliband I am grateful to the people who worked on our campaign and for the campaign they ran. The responsibility for the result is mine alone."


David Cameron says he hopes to govern for all of the UK as a BBC forecast gives the Tories 329 seats - enough to form a slender majority in the Commons. His party made gains in England and Wales,

Salman's rakhi sister Saba and her twin Farah say, "We are very happy. We haven't eaten for two days. I hope he calls us today, we want to our first morsel to be from him."

Imran Khan tweets his condolences over the chopper crash killing several envoys in Pak: "Saddened by tragic Naltar helicopter crash killing diplomats, envoys' wives & Pak army pilots & 4 citizens My condolences go to the families."

If you love history, read this:


The British High Commission will on Monday, return to the widow of an Indian soldier, a George Cross Medal stolen from her in 2002. Brigadier Brian McCall, Defence Advisor at the British High Commission New Delhi will present the George Cross medal to Brahmi Devi, widow of Indian soldier Naik Kirpa Ram, in a small public ceremony on Monday 11 May 2015 at village Bhapral, District Bilaspur, Himachal Pradesh.


The George Cross, the highest British military honour for gallantry in peace time, was awarded posthumously to the widow of Naik Kirpa Ram in 1946. 


However the medal was stolen from her almost 13 years ago before re-surfacing at an auction. The British Government subsequently supported efforts to have the medal returned to her.


UK Barrister Ian Mayes, who fought Brahmi Devi's case "pro bono' (without fee) will speak at the ceremony, at the conclusion of which Brigadier McCall will hand over the medal to Brahmi Devi.


Naik Kirpa Ram was posthumously awarded the George Cross medal in 1946. Born in 1916 Kirpa Ram volunteered to join the Indian Army and during the World War II, he became a member of the 8th Battalion, 13th Frontier Force Rifles.


He was deployed for the Burma campaign and on his return to India, during a field firing exercise, a rifle grenade misfired and fell only a few yards away from his unit.


The 28 year old Kirpa Ram rushed forward shouting at his colleagues to take cover and attempted to throw it to a secure distance but it exploded in his hand leading to his death. However his self-sacrifice saved lives of his unit members.


The posthumous award of the George Cross was announced on 15 March 1946. The medal had apparently been stolen from the soldier's Bhapral village residence in 2002 and an FIR was lodged in the area police station by Naik Kirpa Ram's widow, Brahmi Devi, who is now in her 80s.

Although investigations were made at the time, no trace was found until the medal resurfaced for auction in London in late 2009. The medal was due to go under the hammer on 2 December 2009, but after the police intervention, steps were taken to suspend the sale.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Naxal-affected Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh tomorrow to take stock of socio-economic development initiatives being taken there. Two mega projects for setting up of a mega steel plant and the second phase of the Rowghat-Jagdalpur railway line will be inaugurated during Modi's visit, state government officials said. 

"The West owes Russia one hell of a lot for breaking the back of the Nazi war machine so that Europe remained free. Yet, the West is 'boycotting' the 70th anniversary of the Victory Day over Nazism, which Russia is celebrating this weekend... There is much symbolism in President Pranab Mukherjee's participation in the Victory Day celebrations in Moscow," says Ambassador M K Bhadrakumar.  Read

Now that the Salman circus has left town, time for a lovely read from Rediff.com.

'The Russians had risen to great heights of sacrifice and heroism and won a victory against Hitler and Nazism at such a tremendous cost in spite of being weighed down by the tyranny and oppression of Stalin.


''The casualties suffered in the war were so heavy that in the Soviet days there was a ritual of taking a newly married couple to the war memorial in each town and village immediately after the wedding. The implication was that they should have many children to make up for the lost population."'

Rediff.com re-posts the late K Subrahmanyam's memories of Victory Day that commemorates the end of World War II.  Read

A district court in Muzaffarpur today ordered that an FIR be registered against Bollywood singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya and jewellery designer Farah Ali Khan for their remarks against people sleeping on roads following conviction of actor Salman Khan in a 2002 hit-and-run case.


The complainant had claimed that he had been hurt by the "derogatory" remarks of the singer which he saw on TV channels and read in newspapers.


In a series of tweets, Abhijeet had on May 6 said "Come out fraternity, support @BeingSalmanKhan boldly not hypocriticly Roads footpath r not meant 4 sleeping, not driver's or alcohol's fault (sic)." "Roads are meant for cars and dogs not for people sleeping on them." Jewellery designer and Salman's friend Farah Ali Khan had also sought to blame the homeless for the star's plight with comments like footpaths are not for sleeping.

A huge crowd including curious onlookers and admirers had gathered outside Galaxy apartments ahead of the court hearing on the 49-year-old actor's appeal against conviction.


As soon as the news of his bail poured in, fans started celebrating and dancing resulting in traffic disruptions in the area for a while. A posse of security personnel, including a team of State Reserve Police Force, was deployed in the area.


Meanwhile, Salman left for sessions court at around 1.30 pm to execute a fresh bail bond even as celebrities including actor Anupam Kher, Ajay Devgn, Emraan Hashmi, music director Anu Malik, director duo Abbas-Mastan visited his house.


Earlier in the day, Salman's sister Alivra Agnihotri, was present for the hearing at the High Court along with Congress leader Baba Siddiqui. His brothers Arbaaz and Sohail chose to stay with Salman at home.


Pic: Salman's stepmother arrived at Galaxy apartments earlier today. 

In other news: Ambassadors of Philippines and Norway and the wives of the Malaysian and Indonesian ambassadors were killed in a helicopter in crash in Naltar Valley in Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan, reports Dawn. Two pilots were also killed when the Pakistan Army helicopter crashed on a school in Naltar Valley. 

Outrage on the Salman's suspended sentence: @nitingokhale tweets: Celebrities get bail/stay on jail stint in a jiffy. thousands rot as undertrials for years. Justice only for the well-heeled, well-connected.


@imsvmanjunath tweets: Aamir visits Salman.Then he makes TV prog Satyameve..&talks about following law,discipline.Guess its only for common people.

And in the UK, Ed Miliband set to quit as Labour leader after poor performance, sources tell the BBC.


And the winner takes it all...

Conservative Party leader @David_Cameron to see queen at 1130 GMT for expected PM nomination, reports AFP.

Somebody take her phone away.

Farah Ali Khan tweets: And maybe we need to earmark roads where the homeless can sleep peacefully without the fear of being run over, roads that are bylanes.


She had caused  outrage on Wednesday when she had blamed the victims in the hit-and-run case, saying, "The govt should be responsible for housing ppl. If no 1was sleeping on d road in any other country Salman wuld not have driven over anybody.  It's like penalising a train driver because someone decided to cross the tracks and got killed in the bargain. No one should be sleeping on the road or footpath. It is dangerous to do that just like it is dangerous to cross tracks. "

Sagarika Ghose @sagarikaghose tweets her outrage: When a rich drunk person,without license drives SUV over poor people, kills one,hurts 3, he won't be punished if he's a celebrity. Farcical!

Salman Khan leaves for the sessions court. At the court, he will have to notionally surrender, furnish a fresh bail bond of Rs 30,000 after which the court will grant him bail. 


Point to note is Salman's conviction has not been overturned. What Judge Thipsay did today at the High Court today was to suspend the five-year sentence. Which means the case will be heard again when a fresh appeal is filed after the court resumes on June 15. The court will then allow Salman to file a fresh appeal in the case which may be heard by July or August. The case can wind up in a few months or even take years.

Till a fresh order on the sentence is given, Salman stays out of jail on bail, though a few conditions apply.

Salman will have to notionally surrender and then furnish a bail bond of Rs 30,000 before the trial court grants bail. He will have to go personally to the sessions court once his lawyers get a copy of the bail order dictated by Judge Abhay Thipsay. After that Salman Khan is a free man.

The case comes up for appeal in the High Court by July or August.

The bottom line is that Salman Khan is a free man. He will not have to spend a day in jail.

In Mumbai celebrations outside Salman Khan's residence.

Salman has to furnish a bail bond of Rs 30,000. The court will be on vacation till June 15, which is when fresh directions will be made. Salman's appeal has been admitted, his next hearing will be held before July.

Salman can travel abroad, but only after the High Court clears it. His passport is with the court.

Judge Thipsay, while handing out a suspended sentence for Salman Khan, observed that:

-- This was the first case where culpable homicide or section 304 (2) was invoked in an accident case.

-- There is no likelihood of Salman to abscond and therefore

-- It was proper to suspend sentence pending appeal.


The HC extends interim bail as regular bail would have taken time. Salman has permission to travel abroad.


Salman to now to go to the sessions court (the trial court) and apply for fresh bond

Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen tweets: If it were Sweden, Salman Khan would have been asked to finish working for his pending films, then go to a correctional center when he is free.


Pic: Veteran actor Anupam Kher arrived at Galaxy Apartment just ahead of the verdict.

Salman's sister Alvira and family friend Baba Siddiqui exit the High Court. Reports that Alvira was in tears when the verdict was read out. Major relief for the star and his family and for his producers, as well.

Reports say that Salman will head back to Kashmir to finish shooting for the film, Bajrangi Bhaijaan. It was from Kashmir that Salman reached Mumbai on Tuesday ahead of his sentencing.   

The two main points Judge Abhay Thipsay went by is:

1.Anyone who gets less than seven years can appeal for a suspended sentence.

2. He observed that people without resources have been languishing while their appeals are being heard. 

Salman Khan has to now to go the trial court to execute a fresh bail bond because his interim bail is ending today. Justice Abhay Thipsay, the presiding judge says the actor should first surrender, then appeal for fresh bond. The judge has gone by the norm that anyone who gets less than seven years can appeal for a suspended sentence, which is what Team Salman has worked at. 

For now, Salman Khan will not have to go to Arthur Road or Panvel or Thane jail (still no clarity on which jail he was supposed to go to). He stays home.

He will have to execute a fresh bond.

Just in: Salman Khan's sentence has been suspended pending appeal. Which means while the appeal goes on, he continues to remain on bail.

Salman Khan seeks suspension of jail term. The court's observation has been that people without resources have been languishing while their appeals are heard. Judge Thipsay says there has to be notional custody. Defence has said he has been in custody.  

Salman's fan, who attempted suicide by drinking poison left behind a letter calling Salman his 'bhagwaan' (God). He says he struggled through a difficult childhood, is an aspiring writer, has two children and lives in Bandra East. He said that Salman appeared in his dream.


Pic courtesy: Indian Express.

Justice Abhay Thipsay says why should the appellants rights suffer if the appeal is still pending. This is not a formal order. This is not to say that the sentence has been suspended. This is just conversation between the bar and the bench. 

The prosecution has completed the arguments. 

Justice Thipsay asks the defence when they received a copy of the judgement. "I want to make sure there was no attempt to mislead the court while seeking interim bail," he says. The defence says it received the judgement late because there was a power failure in the Sessions Court.


The fan who consumed poison has been rushed to hospital.

Meanwhile, outside the court, the protesters have been cleared. An extra contingent of police personnel have arrived. The protesters plan a morcha outside Salman's residence in the evening if he gets bail.

A fan of Salman Khan tried to attempt suicide outside Mumbai HC, now taken to hospital #SalmanVerdict

The public prosecutor begins his arguments, says Kamaal Khan was not available to be examined as he is a British national.

Altaf who?

According to statement recorded by Constable Ravindra Patil, now deceased, this is what happened. Altaf was the driver who drove Salman to JW Marriott.

The statement as reported in Mid Day.


--At 10:30 pm, I escorted Salman Khan, his cousin Kamal Khan and driver, Altaf to the Rain bar and restaurant in Juhu.


-- Salman and Kamal were inside for a long time. When they finally emerged, Salman seemed quite normal.


-- We got into the Toyota Land Cruiser and headed for Salman's house in Bandra, with Altaf at the wheel.


-- Along the way, Salman asked Altaf to stop at the JW Marriott, where Salman went in and returned in 15 minutes. He then took the driver's seat.


-- Salman was driving at speeds of up to 70 kmph. At around 2.30 am, when we were a few minutes from the accident spot, Salman turned to talk to me.

-- When he looked back at the road, he realised the Land Cruiser was about to hit an electric pole.


-- He shouted, Gadi nahi ghum rahi (The car isnt turning). He then lost control of the vehicle and it rammed into the American Express Laundry.


-- Immediately, a mob of around 50 people gathered near the sport and started pelting the vehicle with stones.


-- Salman requested the public to listen, but the angry mob kept throwing stones.



-- Kamal meanwhile escaped in the melee and minutes later Salman got into an auto rickshaw and left.


-- Patil then contacted the police control room and narrated the happenings.


--Within minutes, a wireless van from the Bandra Police Station reached the spot.

Recap: Salman's lawyer Amit Desai has said that the prosecution has not proven that Salman was driving the car on the night of 22 September, 2002, Driver Altaf was on the wheel that day, argues Desai. He said there are no eyewitnesses in the 2002 hit-and-run case as people came to the scene only after accident.

In his 240-page judgement, the Sessions Court judge who convicted the actor said that Salman's driver Ashok Singh "came to help the accused on the instruction of Salim Khan, the father of the accused".  Singh may be tried for perjury. 

Meanwhile, pavement dwellers protesting outside the High Court as the bail hearing goes on, say they Salman should be sentenced to 10 years and not just five years. They said they were upset at being called dogs and pointed out that the help who worked for the Khan family were in fact homeless like them.


The protest is in response to singer Abhijeet's tweet on Wednesday in teh immediate aftermath of the conviction when he posted: "Roads are meant for cars and dogs not for people sleeping on them.. @BeingSalmanKhan is not at fault at all..@arbaazSkhan @sonakshisinha. Kutta rd pe soyega kutte ki maut marega, roads garib ke baap ki nahi hai I ws homles an year nvr slept on rd @BeingSalmanKhan @sonakshisinha"

Salman's lawyer Amit Desai goes back to the main argument in the defence statement that it has not been proven that Salman was driving the car.

So, the defence is now pointing fingers at Kamal Khan after its stand that Salman's driver Ashok Singh was behind the wheel that night.

the man who owned responsibility for the accident, his driver Ashok Singh, was staring at a perjury charge.

Ashok Singh drove the actor to court this morning. The prosecution is likely to file charges against him for making a false statement in court.

Ashok Singh in March told the court that he was driving the actor's Toyota Land Cruiser on the night of September 28, 2002. While convicting Salman on Wednesday, Judge Deshpande threw out the argument telling the actor, "You were driving the car. Ashok Singh driving the car is improbable."

Ashok Singh was aired by the defence, 12 years after the incident. Singh had told the court, "I was driving when the tyre burst and the brake jammed. The car went over the steps. I saw that people were trapped beneath. I got out of the right side and Salman too got out of the right side as the left door was jammed." He said the police never listened to him and blamed Salman Khan.

Salman's lawyer Amit Desai says the CrPc 161 statements (statements before police officer) by witnesses are contradictory. Witnesses said vehicle was at speed of 90-100, while the record says he took half an hour from JW Marriott to the incident spot in Bandra which is 14 km away.

So, the defence is saying that there was a fourth person in the car and that fourth person was driving the car, not Salman.

Salman Khan's lawyer Amit Desai said that sessions court ignored the 4th witness's (who was in the car) statement in the case. That statement was crucial. Kamaal Khan was in the car but his statement was not taken into consideration by the sessions court. Kamaal Khan is Salman's cousin and is probably the only weak point in the prosecution case since he was not examined despite being the car when the accident happened. 


Salman's lawyer Amit Desai says the finding of the sessions court, perverse.


To recap, the appeal for bail has been admitted and now the arguments are going on. 

Judge Thipsay seeks witness Ravindra Patil's statement. Patil was a constable deputed as Salman's bodyguard on August 28, 2002. His duty hours were 8 pm to 8 am. He was with Salman in the car when the accident occurred.


In a statement before the magistrate, Patil had said Salman was driving the car at high speed after consuming drinks. Salman's lawyer objected to his statement being taken on record since Patil died in 2007 and was therefore not available for cross-examination.

Also read: My son's soul can now rest in peace, says Ravindra Patil's mother

Grim-faced ahead of the battle, Salman's sister Alvira arrived at the High Court today where the bail hearing will take place. On Wednesday, Salman's brothers -- Sohail and Arbaaz and sistersv -- Alvira and Arpita were in court. Today, it's only Alvira in court. The rest of the family is with Salman at home in Bandra. 

Proceedings begin for Salman Khan's bail plea in court number 21, court room fully packed. Arguments for bail application begin, Amit Desai arguing Salman Khan's case. Appeal for a hearing accepted.

Bail hearing begins in the High Court presided over by Judge Abhay Thipsay.  The actor was convicted and sentenced to five years' rigorous imprisonment on various charges under IPC, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder, besides penal provisions under Motor Vehicles Act and other laws.


Soon after the conviction, Salman's lawyer had moved the high court which granted him interim bail for two days since he had not been given a detailed, reasoned copy of the verdict on the basis of which his appeal would be heard.


The interim bail ends today. Depending on the judgment today, Salman will either stay in Galaxy Apartments or in jail.


Salman, who is on bail since last 13 years in this case, is present in the high court. 

And at another court in Bhiwandi near Mumbai, Rahul Gandhi makes an appearance in the defamation case. More on that later.

Justice Abhay Thipsay to hear Salman Khan's bail plea in court number 21 shortly. Salman's lawyer trial lawyer Shrikant Shivade has also reached court. 

Meanwhile, pavement dwellers have been protesting outside the High Court. 

Salman's bail hearing begins in High Court.

Salman's sister Alvira is the only one from the family to be in court.  

Pushing, heckling has already started at the door of Justice AM Thipsay's courtroom, reports the Indian Express.

Prosecution lawyer Abha Singh and Public Prosecutor Sandeep Shinde are in the courtroom for Salman Khan's hearing. Salman Khan's lawyer Amit Desai (pictured) reaches the HC for the hearing. Salman's sister Alvira Khan sitting in the second row behind the lawyers in the courtroom.

The road outside Salman Khan's home in Bandra, Mumbai, is off-limits for vehicles, with the traffic police sealing it, reports Syed Firdaus Ashraf/Rediff.com.   

The United States has begun a long-awaited program to train Syrian fighters to go into combat against Islamic State, the Pentagon said on Thursday, deepening America's role in Syria's civil war after eight months of airstrikes against the Sunni militants.

US government investigators knew that one of the two gunmen in an attempted attack outside a provocative cartoon contest might be interested in going to the event, but they had no information that he was going to commit violence, FBI Director James Comey has said in his first public comments on the Sunday shooting.

UK election exit poll predicts Conservatives will be largest party in a hung parliament, with 316 seats to Labour's 239.

The death toll from a Mexican drug cartel's rocket-propelled grenade attack on an army helicopter rose to eight today after a police woman and a soldier succumbed to their wounds. 

The US Senate easily passed legislation today giving Congress the right to review and possibly reject any final nuclear deal with Iran, after the bill overcame fierce initial objections from President Barack Obama. 

An attempted attack on a controversial cartoon contest concerning Prophet Mohammed in the US state of Texas was inspired -- but not ordered by -- the Islamic State group, US Defence Secretary Ashton Carter said today. 

A US appeals court has ruled that bulk collection of phone records by the National Security Agency is illegal.

A Japanese zoo has apologised after receiving complaints over naming a baby monkey Charlotte for the newborn British princess.

Russia said an unmanned supply ship that missed a rendezvous with the International Space Station will burn up on re-entering the Earth's atmosphere after the spacecraft suffered a communications failure. 

A US air strike in Yemen last month killed the senior Al-Qaeda official who appeared in a video claiming the deadly January attack on French magazine Charlie Hebdo, a monitor said today. 

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