Bollywood star Salman Khan's sentence for a hit-and-run
homicide conviction has been suspended by a Mumbai high
court in Indian, pending his appeal.
Khan who was convicted on Wednesday by a lower court of
culpable homicide and sentenced to five years in prison for
killing Noor Ullah Khan by driving over him in 2002 as he
slept on a pavement and injuring four others, has now been
released on extended bail with a final appeal hearing due in
July.
During his trial, Khan argued his driver had been behind the
wheel, but the judge said it was the actor who had been
driving, under the influence of alcohol.
Reports say one of his fans, Mr Kundu offered to be jailed in
place of the actor but was taken away by the police.
After his conviction on Wednesday, Khan - who had faced a
possible 10-year jail term - approached the high court and
was given interim bail for two days, with many expecting him
to be jailed on Friday but instead, he was given an extended
bail by the court till July when he'll appeal.
While Khan's friends, colleagues and fans celebrated outside
his home on Friday, others have called for him to be treated
like any other citizen of the country who had committed a
crime.