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Bollywood star Salman Khan jailed for car death

Court convicts actor of running over five men sleeping on a pavement and killing one

Indian Bollywood actor Salman Khan (centre) is watched by his father Salim Khan (second right) and others as he walks towards a vehicle at his residence in Mumbai before travelling to a court appearance in the western Indian city. Salman Khan, one of Bollywood’s biggest stars, has been sentenced to five years in prison for drunkenly killing a homeless man with his sport utility vehicle in a 2002 hit-and-run. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

Wed May 6 2015 - 11:33

One of India's biggest and most popular movie stars, Salman Khan, has been sentenced to five years in jail after he was found guilty of running over five men sleeping on a pavement and killing one.

Judge DW Deshpande of the Mumbai Sessions court convicted Khan of culpable homicide over the 2002 incident earlier today.

The 49-year-old actor was also given separate terms for negligent driving and causing grievous harm to the victims. His lawyers said all the sentences will run concurrently, and he plans to file an appeal for bail.

The prosecution told the court earlier that Khan was drunk when he rammed his car into a group of homeless people in September 2002.

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Khan is one of Bollywood’s most popular stars and has acted in more than 90 Hindi-language films in his 27-year career.

Huge crowds gathered outside Khan’s house in south Mumbai for a glimpse of the star as he emerged from his apartment block surrounded by security guards to head to court this morning.

Scores of television crews and reporters followed the actor's car and thronged the building as the court gave its verdict in a case that has been closely watched by millions of Khan's fans in India and abroad.

PA

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