HIGHLIGHTS: Salman Khan gets bail, five-year sentence suspended

HIGHLIGHTS OF SALMAN KHAN’S BAIL HEARING:

6.50 pm: Salman Khan waves to his fans from the balcony of his residence.

(Source: Express photo by Vasant Prabhu)

5.40 pm: The sessions court grants bail to Salman Khan. The actor has to now furnish personal surety within two weeks.

5.30 pm: Salman Khan reaches sessions court to sign bail bond.

Mumbai: Salman Khan reaches Sessions Court #SalmanVerdict pic.twitter.com/gpNfxBwUO7

— ANI (@ANI_news) May 8, 2015

1:16 pm: Fans of the actor have gathered outside his residence as Salman prepares to leave for the court.

Fans of Salman Khan outside Galaxy Apartments in Mumbai (Express photo by Vasant Prabhu)

1:13 pm: Here is what happens next: Salman Khan’s appeal has been admitted and the court has directed for an expedited hearing. Next date of hearing will be confirmed shortly. Before that, the actor has to appear before the trial court and furnish a fresh bail bond. That will happen in the next couple of hours.

12: 49 am: Salman Khan, whose bail has been extended by the Bombay HC today, will have to surrender and furnish a fresh bond of Rs 30,000.

12: 39 pm: BREAKING right now: Relief for Salman Khan, his sentence has been suspended. He will not go to jail for now.

12: 27 am: The fan who attempted suicide has been identified as Gouranga Kundu, a 32-year-old man from West Bengal.

12:13 am: Apparently, the fan of the actor who drank poison has 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.

Salman Khan’s fan attempts suicide outside High Court

(Read the letter below)

A suicide letter of Salman Khan’s fan who attempted suicide outside the court today

11:52 am: There are reports of a fan having tried to commit suicide outside the court. A man in his 20s is said to have consumed poison and is being taken away to the St George hospital.

11:50 am: 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.

11:45 am: As his hearing is in progress at the HC, celebrities continue to drop in at Salman’s house to meet him. (Click here for photos)

Salman Khan’s ‘Partner’ co-star Govinda with the star. (Source: Varinder Chawla)

11:28 am: Defense cites the actor’s humanitarian work and his neurological condition during the hearing.

11:10 am: Salman Khan’s bail application hearing begins at the Bombay High Court.

11: 09 am: Relatives and well-wishers visit his residence. [Watch video below]

11:07 am: Senior counsel Amit Desai, who represents Salman Khan, arrives inside the courtroom.

11:05 am: There are protesters outside the court who are demanding that bail be not given to Salman. They are also asking for housing for the homeless. (Click for more photos here)

Protesters outside the court premises in Mumbai

10: 48 am: Salman Khan not likely to appear in court for his bail hearing.

10: 40 am: Public prosecutor Sandeep Shinde, who represents the State in the Bombay HC, has reached the court.

Case background

Salman was convicted of ramming his car into a roadside bakery in Bandra back in 2002 killing a man and injuring four others.

Shortly after the judgment was pronounced on Wednesday, the actor’s lawyers had moved an application for interim bail at the High Court, which was granted since he had not been given a detailed, reasoned copy of the verdict on the basis of which his appeal would be heard.

Heavy security will be deployed in the High Court premises with an additional 200 police personnel added to the existing 400 personnel who guard the building all year round. The actor is not likely to be present for the hearing.

Read: Salman didn’t help victims, didn’t wait for cops: Trial court judge

Read: Heavy security outside Bombay HC premises today

Explained: Salman set to appeal, how have courts seen IPC 304 (II)?