Sakina Tashrifwala
Published on: 27 September 2022 at 15:24 IST
Supreme Court rejected an appeal challenging the ruling and verdict of the Gujarat High Court, which dismissed a criminal case filed against Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan. In January 2017, a charge was filed against the actor in connection with a stampede that occurred at the Vadodara Railway Station.
Bench comprises of Justice Ajay Rastogi and Justice CT Ravikumar issued an order declining to intervene with the High Court’s judgement to dismiss Jitendra Madhubai Solanki’s suit.
The terrible occurrence occurred in January 2017 as the actor was travelling from Mumbai to Delhi to promote the feature film “Raees.” In order to catch a sight of the actor, a large throng had assembled at the Vadodra Railway Station, resulting in the stampede. The stampede that transpired resulted in many reported injuries and one fatality.
A complaint was filed by a complainant with the Judicial Magistrate, First Class, in Vadodra, alleging that a stampede was caused by Shah Rukh Khan’s presence at the Vadodra Railway Station and his hurling of T-shirts and smiling balls into the throng.
The Court took cognizance of the matter and issued summons against the actor to face charges under Sections 336 (Act endangering life or personal safety of others), 337 (Causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others), and 338 (Causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) of IPC and Sections 145 (Drunkenness or nuisance), 150 (Maliciously wrecking or attempting to wreck a train), 152 (Maliciously hurting or attempting to hurt persons travelling by railway), 154 (Endangering safety of persons travelling by railway by rash or negligent act or omission) and 155(1)(a) (having entered a compartment wherein no berth or seat has been reserved by a railway administration for his use) of the Railways Act, 1989.
Khan subsequently filed an application with the High Court requesting the dismissal of the aforementioned case. On April 27, 2022, the Single Judge bench of the High Court of Gujarat, composed by Justice Nikhil S. Kariel, dismissed the complaint made against Khan.
While issuing the decision, the High Court noted that Khan was promoting his film at the railway station after obtaining permission from the relevant authorities. In addition, the court noted that his actions could not be characterized as exhibiting an extraordinarily high degree of carelessness or recklessness, nor could they be deemed the direct or effective cause of the claimed occurrence.
Jitendra Madhubai Solanki was represented before the top court by Senior Advocate Vijay Kumar, while Shah Rukh Khan was represented by Senior Advocate Siddhartha Luthra and a team from Karanjawala & Co., Advocates led by Ms. Ruby Singh Ahuja and Mr. Sandeep Kapur, Senior Partners.