DHAKA: An Indian court has sentenced Bollywood star Salman Khan to five years in jail for killing a homeless man in a 2002 hit-and-run driving incident in Mumbai.

The man was among five people who were run over in the incident. The actor was charged with culpable homicide, reports bbc.com.

Salman Khan had said his driver was behind the wheel, but the judge said the actor was driving the car and was under the influence of alcohol at the time.

Legal experts expect the actor to appeal against the verdict.

He could have been jailed for 10 years.

The guilty verdict is a huge setback for Khan who is one of Bollywood's biggest stars, appearing in more than 80 Hindi-language films, said sources concerned.

Several of his films, including Dabangg, Ready, Bodyguard, Ek Tha Tiger, Maine Pyar Kiya and Hum Aap Ke Hain Kaun, have been huge commercial hits.

On Wednesday morning, as the actor drove to court with his family and friends, fans prayed for the actor's acquittal.

But Judge DW Deshpande found him guilty on the charge of culpable homicide.

"You were driving the car; you were under the influence of alcohol," he told the actor as soon as the court proceedings began.

Indian television channels reported the actor broke down inside court as the guilty verdict was announced.

Several of his Bollywood colleagues spoke out in his support and expressed their sympathies. Actress Hema Malini said she was praying for him and hoped he would escape with a light sentence.

If the actor is jailed, it will affect several big-ticket film projects he is involved in at the moment.


BDST: 1154 HRS, MAY 06, 2015, update:1446 HRS
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