Sanjay Dutt Gets 6 Years in Jail
Bollywood’s star actor Sanjay Dutt, on whose shoulders rides about a billion rupees in investment of the Indian film industry, was sentenced to six years in prison for illegally possessing “dangerous” weapons in the 1993 Mumbai bombings as one of the longest criminal trials in India ended Tuesday.
The 48-year-old actor, who has already served 16 months in jail, was immediately taken into custody to serve a “rigorous imprisonment” sentence and his bail bond was cancelled. Dutt, who wore a white shirt and jeans and a days-old stubble, appeared stunned.
P.D. Kode, special judge of the anti-terror TADA court, disregarded the actor’s plea for leniency under the Probation of Offenders Act (PoA) for good behaviour through the last 14 years of the trial and refused to extend his bail.
The judge has been hearing the trial of the offenders in the serial bombings, then the world’s worst urban terror attack that killed 257 people and injured hundreds.
Dutt, son of star parents Sunil and Nargis Dutt and whose sister Priya Dutt is a Congress MP, had been convicted under the Arms Act for possessing a 9 mm pistol and an AK-56 rifle that had been given to him in January 1993 by members of the underworld. Dutt was, however, absolved of terror charges.
Kode said being in possession of the weapons was an “imminent dangerous act”.
“If you want to protect your family, you can take a lawful step. But an unlawful step for the purpose cannot be considered noble,” the judge said, responding to Dutt’s plea that the weapons were for self-defence and to protect his family.
“He not only committed a crime himself but also made others commit a crime by asking them to destroy the weapon,” the judge added, as Dutt sat in a corner of the crowded courtroom with his head bowed.
Lawyer for Dutt, one of India’s highest paid actors who starred in recent hits such as “Lage Raho Munnabhai” and “Shootout at Lokhandwala”, said they were appealing against the sentence in the Supreme Court immediately.
Yusuf Nulwala, one of Sanjay’s three associates in the case, was given five years for having destroyed the AK-56 rifle. Kersi Adajenia was sentenced to two years on the same charge.
But Rusi Mulla was given probation with a bond of Rs.100,000 and a surety of the same amount. He was directed not to leave Mumbai.
As the judge finished speaking, Dutt requested him to give him time to surrender and allow him to receive a call from his daughter Trishala in New York.
“I have conducted myself well for the last 14 years. You know me better than even my family knows me,” an emotional Dutt told Kode.
“Please don’t let the police surround me like a common criminal or a terrorist when they take me away,” the star pleaded.
Kode said he would consider his plea. “I will meet you after lunch,” the judge said.
Reason for Jail: Sanjay Dutt an Indian celebrity, Had it been you and me convicted with same charges, I bet the same judge would have released us just taking a few lacs from us. In India so many poeple keep guns but only people like Sanjay Dutt. Common people, like you and me can get away with almost anything and everything.
Someone says that his father was a MP and he could have asked for more security. Don’t you think in how much pressure he would have been when MUMBAI’s Don call him and ask him to do something. Its very hard for an established person in India to count on security provided by Indian Government. In order to live free and get a career in movie industry, he had to oblige the Don.
When the whole film industry is ruled by these handful of Mafia then what do you expect Sanjay Dutt to do. Now our government & a few organization have their shoulders up right, But whats nexts. Still the film industry will be ruled by those mafia and again some Sanjay Dutts career will be ruined. I feel really bad for Sanjay Dutt. People before judging right and wrong and passing your comments just try being in his shoes and think how much pressure he must have been in. Sanjay Dutt stood for every wrong in film industry. He’s a good human being. At the end of the day its totally your point of view.
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