Court raps police for holes in Salman case

While deferring the hearing on the bail application of film star Salman Khan till tomorrow, Judge P.V. Bavkar of the sessions court pulled up the Mumbai police for not making their stand on the issue clear.

The judge took exception to the police statement in response to the bail petition in which they had stated that ‘‘the appropriate orders may be passed.’’ They had stated: ‘‘jameen arjbabat adesh honyaas vinati aahe (We request an order on bail application)’’. The judge asked the senior police inspector of Bandra police station if they wrote this in all other cases. ‘‘What are you suggesting? Are you opposing his bail or not? Give a definite answer in writing,’’ he said.Public Prosecutor R.V. Kini pleaded that police were leaving it to the court’s discretion and were not suggesting anything.

Adjourning the matter, Judge Bavkar said he needed to study the chargesheet and also the Supreme Court and high court citations submitted by the defence. The bail petition will be taken up as ‘first on board’ (the first petition to be heard) tomorrow. Appearing for Salman, Harshad Ponda argued that since the chargesheet had been filed, Salman could be granted bail.