Bollywood superstar Salman Khan will face trial for culpable homicide not amounting to murder in connection with the 2002 hit-and-run case.
A Mumbai sessions court on Wednesday framed charges against the 47-year-old actor, who pleaded not guilty.
"Initially in the court when the judge came, he said he would not be framing the charges or he would not be deciding the other two applicants of intervention and restrain on media. However, when Salman's lawyer moved a petition for exemption and it was told to the court that Salman would be away for two months for shooting, the judge decided to frame the charges against 228 CrPC so that in the next hearing Salman would not be required," said Abha Singh, the lawyer in the hit-and-run case.
"However, he has been given exemption with the clause that if and when the judge orders that he has to be present for the trial Salman Khan has to be present," she added.
Abha Singh informed that Salman's lawyers wanted a media restraint because they felt that the media was not reporting correctly and it was hampering getting justice to the actor.
"Accordingly, the judge said that the media should have self restraint, mobiles will not be allowed in the courts and also the media should only report the facts so that the trial proceedings can go on smoothly," she added.
Abha Singh further said that the next hearing in this case will take place on August 19.
Salman, who was accompanied by his sisters Arpita and Alvira in the court today, could face up to 10 years in jail if convicted.
The Mumbai Sessions Court had earlier on June 24 rejected his review petition.
Salman was earlier tried by a magistrate under lesser charge of causing death by negligence (Section 304A of IPC), that provides for a maximum punishment of two years in jail.
The Bombay High Court had earlier held that Section 304 part II of the Indian Penal Code (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) was not applicable in this case and that the actor be tried under 304 A of IPC (rash and negligent driving) and other relevant sections.
The metropolitan magistrate's court in Bandra had framed charges against the actor under Sections 304 A of the IPC (rash and negligent driving), 279 (rash driving), 337 (causing minor injuries), 338 (causing major injuries) and 427 (negligence).
Salman's Toyota Land Cruiser vehicle had rammed into a bakery in suburban Bandra killing one and injuring four persons who were sleeping on a pavement on September 28, 2002.
