An eyewitness in the hit-and-run case, involving actor Salman Khan, failed to turn up on Thursday in the trial court, which deferred the matter to March two for further hearing.
This is the third time eyewitness Ravindra Patil has failed to appear. The court has taken a serious view of the absence of the witness and warned him to appear at the next hearing.
A non-bailable warrant issued against him for non-appearance earlier is pending execution, Salman's lawyer Dipesh Mehta told PTI.
The court had issued the NBW against Patil, the police guard of the actor, on February 7 when he failed to turn up. Again on February 10, Patil did not appear and the court re-issued the warrant, asking him to appear on February 16.
Salman Khan is charged with killing a person and injuring four by ramming his car into a bakery in suburban Bandra on September 28, 2002. The deposition of Patil is considered significant, as he had reportedly told police that he had advised the actor not to drive rashly or else he will meet with an accident.
Patil also told police that Salman was under the influence of liquor and did not pay heed to his advise. However, during cross-examination, Patil told the defence lawyer that Salman was quite normal while driving and that he had raised an alarm that the wheel was not turning when the actor's vehicle turned to avoid a pole coming in the way.
Salman has denied the charges of getting drunk before driving and also refuted allegations that he was driving rashly.