Mumbai:
A Mumbai court today ordered fresh trial in a 2002 hit-and-run case against Hindi film actor Salman Khan.
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.
All evidence and witnesses are likely to be re-examined in the case. The trial is set 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.
With the prime eyewitness constable Ravindra Patil, who alleged that Mr Khan was driving the vehicle having passed away, activists allege the defence would use this to push for dropping his testimony.
"They would benefit delaying the trial. The hit-and-run in magistrate court has already been delayed by 10 years and here also if they delay it by another 5 years, it would give Salman enough time to do his movies. Ravindra Patil is no longer alive. His lawyers will try and drop Ravindra Patil's statement," says lawyer and activist, Abha Singh.
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.