Justice C.V. Bhadang of the Bombay high court on November 3 said, he was unable to complete a judgement, despite his best efforts, in an appeal filed by Salman Khan against a city civil court order in his defamation suit against his Panvel farmhouse neighbour, Ketan Kakkad, and others. The judge declared the matter as “not heard”. Justice Bhadang retired today (November 4).
The matter will have to be heard afresh by the bench which has now been assigned. On October 11, the judge had concluded the hearing and had reserved the appeal for judgement which was scheduled to be pronounced on November 3. In his order, Justice Bhadang said, “However, in spite of best efforts and as the matter was heard at some length and the record comprises several volumes, it was not possible to finalise the judgement, with only a day left at my disposal. In such circumstances, the appeal be treated as not heard.” The matter was posted next to November 14.
Salman Khan had moved the high court in April this year after he failed to get relief in his plea to restrain Kakkad, a US citizen, from posting any “defamatory and disparaging allegations in videos” about him (Salman) and his family. The appeal was listed on eleven dates prior and heard at length.