Mumbai, Jan 31 : In a major setback to Bollywood actor Salman Khan, the Bandra magistrate's court today accepted the plea of the Maharashtra governent that the actor should e tried under Section 304 (II) of the Indian Penal Code (culpabe homicide not amounting to murder), a graver offence, the 2002 hit-and-run case.

Salman Khan, 47, is presently being tried under section 304(I) (rash and negligent driving) which attracts a maximum punishment of two years while Section 304(2) attracts a maximum sentence of ten years.

Following today's order, the magistrate committed the case to sessions court for trial, as the offence is serious.

“Salman would have to appear before the sessions court on March 11,” said his lawyer, advocate Dipesh Mehta.