Dutt sentenced for six years

Dutt sentenced for six years
NDTV Correspondent, Tuesday, July 31, 2007, Mumbai

Actor Sanjay Dutt has been sentenced to six years in prison for illegal possession of arms in connection with the 1993 Mumbai blasts case.

Last November he had been convicted for the illegal possession of a 9 mm pistol and an AK 56.

While delivering the last batch of sentences in the 1993 blasts trial, Judge Kode said that the actor's possession of these weapons was an imminently dangerous act and that he showed scant respect for the law.

Dutt's bail was immediately cancelled and he was taken into custody right away. He has been fined a sum of Rs 25,000.

He will be kept at the Arthur Road jail. Although he asked for some time to surrender, the prosecution opposed this.

Dutt will now be kept in the same cell as his associate and co-convict Yusuf Nalwalla. However, Dutt's lawyers said that they will appeal in the Supreme Court.

Soon after the verdict was pronounced Dutt asked the judge to be allowed to call his daughter.

Earlier, the judge had refused the probation report of Dutt and other accused Yusuf Nullwala and Kersi Adajania.

Dutt: I honestly thought I would get the benefit of probation. I have to wind up a few things.

Judge Kode: Don't get upset. I have got a duty to do. This is not the final court.

Dutt: You are like family to us.

Judge Kode:This is a momentary thing. You can appeal in a higher court.

He also said that Dutt committed the offence and also made others do so. He further observed that Dutt made Nullwala an offender by making him destroy the weapon.

"Sanjay with folded hands asked the court that considering his past record he should be given a few days to put in an appeal in the SC. However we opposed this plea. The TADA court accepted our argument and rejected his bail plea," said Ujjwal Nikam, Special Public Prosecutor.

Nullwala has been sentenced to five years in prison while Kersi gets two years in jail.

One of the aides of Sanjay Dutt, Russi Mulla who was also accused in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case has been let off by the special TADA court.

Mulla will be given probation on surety of Rs 1 lakh and will be under observation for a year.

The trial in the Mumbai serial blasts case finally came to an end with all 100 convicted being sentenced. The serial blasts on March 12, 1993 had killed 257 people.

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