Court suspends Salman Khan jail sentence pending appeal

One of India’s biggest film stars has been granted bail until a court hears his appeal over his conviction in a drink-drive hit-and-run case more than a decade ago.

Salman Khan was sentenced to five years in prison on Wednesday on charges of driving over five men sleeping on the pavement, killing one of them, in Mumbai in 2002.

The Mumbai High Court said today that it will start hearing the 49-year-old's appeal in July, according to prosecutor Abha Singh.

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

It could take years more for Khan’s case to wind its way through India’s overburdened legal system.

PA