Salman Khan tweets Yakub Memon ‘innocent’, apologises after father tells him off

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BJP MP Kirit Somaiya demanded to know why Salman felt the court was guilty and Yakub innocent and why the actor was more worried about terrorists than those who suffered in the attacks. In UP, MP Yogi Adityanath issued a statement saying, “A person who himself has been sentenced by a court and is out on interim bail opposes the hanging of a person responsible for a terror incident that claimed the lives of innocent people. This is promotion of terrorism.”

My dad called & said I should retract my tweets as they have the potential to create misunderstanding. I here by retract them.

— Salman Khan (@BeingSalmanKhan) July 26, 2015

I would like to unconditionally apologise for any misunderstanding I may have created unintentionally. — Salman Khan (@BeingSalmanKhan) July 26, 2015

I also strongly condemn those who are claiming my tweets are anti religious. I have always said I respect all faiths and I always will.

— Salman Khan (@BeingSalmanKhan) July 26, 2015

Many lives were lost in the Mumbai blasts. And I have repeatedly said the loss of one innocent life is equal to the loss of all humanity.

— Salman Khan (@BeingSalmanKhan) July 26, 2015

I had tweeted that Tiger Memon should hang for his crimes and I stand by it. What i also said is that Yakub Memon should not hang for him.

— Salman Khan (@BeingSalmanKhan) July 26, 2015

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Somaiya threatened to raise the matter in Parliament. BJP leader Ashish Shelar met the governor and submitted a letter calling for cancellation of the bail granted to Salman in the 2002 hit-and-run case.

Shiv Sena spokesperson Neelam Gorhe said, “The protests outside the actor’s home are a spontaneous reaction of Sainiks. Our party chief Uddhav Thackeray is of the view that no importance should be given to such comments.” Uddhav sought to know if Salman was saying the court was wrong.

In Satara, protesters blackened posters of Salman’s Bajrangi Bhaijaan. Public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam said the tweets could invite charges of contempt of court. After Salman took his tweets back, however, Nikam said the issue is now settled.

Criminal lawyer Majid Memon said Salman Khan’s tweets either way were “inconsequential” because he does not know the facts of the case.

Salman’s father Salim Khan got into damage control and told the media Salman’s comments were “ridiculous and meaningless”, and since he was ignorant of the matter his views should not be taken seriously.

A little later, Salman tweeted afresh. “I had tweeted that Tiger Memon should hang for his crimes and I stand by it. What I also said is that Yakub Memon should not hang for him… I have not said or implied that Yakub Memon is innocent… My dad called and said I should retract my tweets as they have the potential to create misunderstanding. I hereby retract them… I would like to unconditionally apologise for any misunderstanding I may have created unintentionally.”