Salman hit-and-run case: Mumbai court orders fresh trial

A Mumbai court today ordered fresh trial in a 2002 hit-and-run case against Hindi film actor Salman Khan, which takes the case almost back where it started 11 years ago.

Mr Khan had asked for a fresh trial after the charge against him was enhanced from "rash and negligent driving" to the more serious "culpable homicide not amounting to murder", which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in jail.

The court today said all evidence and witnesses in the case will be re-examined. The trial is likely to begin on December 23.

The 47-year-old actor had told the court that the evidence presented earlier before a magistrate should be discarded as he was now facing a more serious charge. The prosecution had argued against fresh trial, saying it was a "stalling tactic."

In September 2002, Mr Khan was allegedly driving a Toyota Land Cruiser that ran over a group of people sleeping on the pavement outside a bakery in suburban Bandra. One person was killed and four others were injured in the accident.

The case has gone from court to court with arguments centred around whether Mr Khan was driving the car that day or not. The Mumbai police say they have enough evidence against him.

In 1998, Salman Khan spent three days in prison for killing a black buck, an endangered species of deer, in Rajasthan.

The actor has starred in many Bollywood blockbusters for two decades and is considered one of the biggest commercial draws at the box office.