Salman Khan didn't smell of alcohol, says witness

In what can be termed as a crucial testimony in Salman Khan's hit and run case, a witness yesterday stated that he didn't smell any influence of alcohol on Salman Khan that fateful night. 63-year old Francis Fernandez, a welding labourer, was the seventh witness to depose before the court, yesterday. Francis who stays close to the accident site said, “I was with Salman for a few minutes after the accident. I didn’t smell any alcohol on him when I was with him. He was able to walk normally. He was normal." Francis also said that he knew Salman since the actor’s childhood days and that the actor referred to him as ‘Commander’. “On 28 September 2002, I was sleeping in my house. I heard a big bang and I got up. After a few minutes I heard voices shouting ‘Bachao, bachao!’. I ran towards the site,” Francis said. Francis mentioned during his cross-examination that he felt Salman was in danger as mobs with iron rods and stones had surrounded him. “When I reached the spot, I saw that Salman was surrounded by a mob. One labourer was having a rod in his hands. I pulled it away. Another one too had a rod. I pulled that away too. Salman saw me and came and said, “Commander, save me." Salman's lawyer Shrikant Shivde asked him if the mob had become furious due to the accident. “Yes. After seeing the furious mob with rods, I thought Salman and his friends were in danger. So I separated him from the mob and took him in the direction of A-1 bakery. The mob was still furious when I took Salman to A1 bakery. I advised him to go home. A car was passing by. My wife stopped it. Salman Khan boarded it,” Francis said. Francis also deposed that he had seen Salman’s Land Cruiser at the accident site and police was not present at the spot when he reached. Adv. Shivade also asked Francis if repair work was going on at the road near the accident site. “Just before the Hill Road, there were 10-12 speedbreakers on St Andrews road. Road repair work was going on near American Express bakery at that time and stones and rubble were lying at the spot,” said Francis. The police are expected to produce at least three more witnesses before the court. The trial is expected to conclude in July. The next date of hearing is 23rd of June.