INDIA, Oct 22, (Agencies): Veteran Indian actor Dalip Tahil, known for his roles in popular Hindi films such as "Baazigar," "Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai," "Race," and "Mission Mangal," has been handed a two-month jail sentence as part of a five-year-old drink-driving case. The incident occurred in 2018 when he collided with an autorickshaw, resulting in injuries to a woman.

A magistrate's court delivered the sentencing after considering the testimony of a medical expert, who confirmed that Tahil was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident. The evaluation revealed the presence of alcohol on his person, and the doctor noted his "unsteady gait, dilated pupils, and incoherent speech."

In response to the verdict, Dalip Tahil expressed respect for the judge and the magistrate court's decision while asserting his intention to challenge the ruling in a higher court. He maintained that the accident had only caused "minor injuries" and claimed that he did not inflict harm on anyone. In his statement, Tahil mentioned, "I respect the judge and decisions made in the magistrate's court. We are challenging the entire decision and the entire verdict in the higher court. It was a suspended sentence, and, most importantly, I would like to say, there were minor injuries in the incident. I did not injure anyone."

The 2018 accident took place in Mumbai's Khar area when Tahil's car collided with an autorickshaw, leading to reports of a woman sustaining injuries to her back and neck. Following the incident, he was arrested by the Mumbai police but was subsequently released on bail. There were also reports that Tahil had declined to provide blood samples after the accident.