Social media erupts over Salman Khan’s verdict

After yesterday’s verdict of Salman Khan’s 2002 hit-and-run case, Twitter users have flooded the internet with their thoughts on the entire episode. Additional Sessions Judge D.W. Deshpande declared Salman Khan guilty of his charges in the accident which resulted in the death of one person and injury of four others.

Salman’s celebrity status and the verdict’s nature have resulted in thousands of tweets that had the hashtag #SalmanVerdict trending on the microblogging portal. While some supported the verdict, there were many who did not approve of Salman’s punishment.

I love @BeingSalmanKhan I think he is a great human. But he will have to face the consequences if he has committed the crime #SalmanVerdict

— Aarti Madan (@AartiMadan) May 6, 2015

The one advantage of #SalmanVerdict is a strong social message against drunken driving. His sentence will serve as deterrent for millions. — Amit Malviya (@malviyamit) May 7, 2015

Salman’s fans poured in undying support for him

Our Love For Salman Gets More Stronger By Every Passing Day. #ISupportSalmanKhan Unfair Verdict On Salman

— Swati Jadhav (@cupidstrike23) May 7, 2015

I agree he made a mistake. But. He’s been a good man after that. Where’s the second chance which life was supposed to give? #SalmanVerdict — Akshaaaaar (@akshaaaaar) May 6, 2015

Salman Khan an extremely down to earth human being. #ISupportSalmanKhan Unfair Verdict On Salman

— IStandWithSalmanKhan (@SayanSarkar95) May 7, 2015

Some people resorted to sarcasm to comment on the hypocrisy of the Indian public :

If, “Sleeping on the footpath is not allowed” is your argument then driving on the footpath is also not allowed. #SalmanVerdict — Uzma Saeed Khan (@uzmakhan_says) May 7, 2015

people praying for #SalmanVerdict are the same people who complain our judiciary system is unjust and unfair

— zσуα (◕‿◕✿) (@tweety_aysshh) May 7, 2015

Former-IPS officer Kiran Bedi tweeted about the effectiveness of the Indian judicial system.

To expedite justice in our judicial system,country needs to debate the need for jury trial system which completes trial in less than a year.

— Kiran Bedi (@thekiranbedi) May 6, 2015

Playback singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya received quite a backlash after his tweet blamed people sleeping on the footpath for the entire episode.

Domestic abuse, killing endangered bucks, drunkdriving, homicide =OK Homeless, asleep on footpaths= ur fault; u asked to die! #SalmanVerdict — Sharanya Haridas (@haridassharanya) May 7, 2015

Some even turned the verdict into a political affair.

there are weird ones on twitter who claim #SalmanVerdict as “Modi Govt achievement” and others who say “minorities are not safe under Modi”

— Tinu Cherian Abraham (@tinucherian) May 7, 2015