Friday, June 10 2005 13:45 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: Bombay High Court today (Jun 10, 2005) granted permanent exemption to Bollywood actor Salman Khan from appearance in a hit-and-run case, in which he is accused of killing one person and injuring four by running his vehicle over them.

The exemption was granted by Justice Vijaya Tahilramani, who heard Salman's petition, challenging a trial court order, which rejected his plea for permanent exemption.

Salman's lawyer Dipesh Mehta pleaded for exemption saying that the actor was pre-occupied with professional assignments and therefore should be exempted.

The judge, however, noted that the court might issue notice to the actor for appearing in person if his presence was absolutely necessary during the trial.

A local court had on October 6, 2003, framed ten charges against Salman even as the actor had pleaded not guilty.

Earlier, the High Court had dropped the charge of culpable homicide not amounting to murder against Salman and directed the lower court to frame other charges.

The accident took place on September 28, 2002 when the actor's car ran over people sleeping outside a bakery in suburban Bandra.