The Supreme Court on Tuesday admitted Maharashtra government's appeal challenging the Bombay High Court's verdict acquitting Salman Khan in the 2002 hit-and-run case. “The matter needs to be examined,“ the SC said, responding to petitions by the Maharashtra government and one of the victims, who had challenged the verdict.

The prosecution also demanded that the case be put on fast track but the SC bench headed by Justice Khehar refused to comply. He said, “If you want the hearing of the case to be put on fast track, you can approach the Chief Justice of India for the same.“

On February 19 this year, the SC had sent a notice to Salman in the same case, questioning why his acquittal by the HC last year should not be overturned. On September 28, 2002, Khan's car had crashed into men sleeping on a pavement outside a bakery in Bandra, killing one. The actor was acquitted by the HC on December 10, 2015.