Bollywood actor Salman Khan was charged on Wednesday for a 2002 hit and run incident. The AFP reported that he could be behind bars for 10 years. Khan 47, allegedly rolled his Toyota Land Cruise onto the pavement and over five sleeping homeless individuals, killing one and injuring the four others.
The AFP reported that Khan pleaded not guilty.
"Prosecutor Shankar Erande asked the judge to frame the charges on Wednesday, rather than adjourn, as the actor was going abroad for two months, which could further delay the trial, PTI said," reported the AFP.
The charges carry a maximum sentence of 10 years.
Petitioner Abha Singh said to the media outside the court that the judge said that "Salman Khan's blood contained 30 mg of alcohol, according to that he was drunk."
Khan has starred in more than 80 Hindi-language films including, "Bodyguard," "Dabangg," "Ek Tha Tiger" and more.
The BBC reported that on September 28, 2002 Khan rammed his car into the American Express bakery where the sleeping homeless people were. 38-year-old Noor Ullah Khan was killed in the accident.
The trial began in 2006. The BBC reported that the court heard witness testimonials between 2006 to 2011 but in March 2011 the prosecution asked for the more serious charge for Khan.
In February the court ruled he could be charged with "culpable homicide not amounting to murder" which is more serious.
"Correspondents say it is not unusual in India for cases to go on for many years, even decades, and there have long been complaints about the laborious nature and slow pace of the country's judicial system," reported The BBC.
In 2006 Khan was sentenced to five years in prison for hunting a deer that was protected but he was released on bail after only spending less than a week behind bars.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
