Salman Khan thanks fans for prayers and support

Mumbai: A much-relieved Bollywood actor Salman Khan took to social media to give his first response after his 5-year jail sentence was suspended on Friday.

"All those who prayed for and supported me thank u meherbani shukriya," he tweeted.

All those who prayed for and supported me thank u meherbani shukriya . — Salman Khan (@BeingSalmanKhan) May 8, 2015

Shortly after returning home from the Sessions Court, Salman responded to the cheering fans gathered outside his residence by waving to them with three fingers, instead of customary victory sign of two fingers, apparently alluding to his famous dialogue in the Hindi film 'Jai Ho'.

In this film, where Salman appears as a crusader against corruption, he says, "Aap thank you mat kahiye... Uske badle mein teen logon ki madad kijiye...Aur un teeno se kehna ki woh teen aur ki madad karen...Duniya badal jayegi." (Don't thank me, rather you do a good turn to three others and ask them to help another three people each...The world will change.).

The fans who gathered in front of the Galaxy apartment in suburban Bandra, where Salman lives, included many women who danced and sang upon seeing the actor back home.

Salman was joined on the balcony by his father, well-known script-writer Saleem Khan.

The crowd had gathered near the actor's house since morning. At times police had to chase the people away to clear the road for traffic.

The Bombay High Court, earlier in the day, suspended his 5-year sentence in the 2002 hit-and-run case and granted him bail in the case that spanned for over 13 years.

As the word came out that the high court had stayed the sentence pending disposal of Khan's appeal, exultant fans burst firecrackers, broke into a wild jig, hopped, jumped and carried each other on shoulders at his residence in suburban Bandra here.

Actors including Anupam Kher, Ajay Devgn, Emraan Hashmi, music director Anu Malik, director duo Abbas-Mastan visited his house. 

Could severe punishment to Salman Khan have served as warning for those who drive rashly? in Nation on LockerDome

(With Agency inputs)