Indian stars in court over deaths

By Monica Chadha
BBC correspondent in Bombay

Salman Khan denies driving while drunk

Two of Bollywood's biggest stars have appeared in court in Bombay to face serious charges in two separate cases.

Actor Salman Khan has been charged with culpable homicide after a person was killed in a car accident in September last year.

And Sanjay Dutt has been charged in connection with 12 bomb blasts that rocked Bombay, also known as Mumbai, in 1993, killing at least 250 people.

Both men deny the charges.

Police say Mr Khan was driving his car while drunk when the accident happened outside a bakery.

One person was killed and three others were injured as they slept on the steps outside the shop.

Adjourned

Mr Khan could be liable for punishment for causing someone's death, although the killing may not have been intentional.

The case has been adjourned until Tuesday.

Mr Dutt was arrested in March 1993 along with 86 others over the 12 March Bombay bombing.

He was charged under an anti-terrorism law for possessing an AK-56 rifle in a notified area and destroying evidence by disposing of the rifle.

Mr Dutt was released on bail in October 1995 and asked to attend court hearings every week since.

The case is expected to last for at least another year.