Bollywood star Salman Khan sentenced to 5 years in jail

Mumbai

A COURT in Mumbai has sentenced Bollywood film actor Salman Khan to five years in prison after finding him guilty of killing a homeless man while driving drunk in a case dating back to 2002.

Khan, 49, was accused of running over people sleeping on a pavement, injuring four in the accident in the tony suburb of Bandra in Mumbai almost 13 years ago. The prosecution said that Khan was drunk when he drove his Toyota Land Cruiser sport- utility vehicle.

The actor's lawyers said Khan's driver Ashok Singh was behind the wheel at the time.

Sessions Court Judge DW Deshpande said that all charges were proven against Khan. The actor can appeal the verdict in a higher court.

Shares of Eros International Media Ltd, which is producing Bajrangi Bhaijan with Khan in the lead role, plunged as much as 7.3 per cent after the verdict.

"Producers will be extremely careful in signing him for films until there's clarity on the judgment and what legal recourse is available to him," said Amod Mehra, an independent film trade analyst.

Khan, who has acted in action movies included Dabaang and Ek Tha Tiger, is also awaiting the outcome of a case involving the hunting of endangered blackbucks in 1998. In that case, the Supreme Court has reserved its verdict. BLOOMBERG