Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt gets 5 years in jail in 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case

Policemen escort actor Sanjay Dutt as he comes out of the Terrorist And Disruptive Activities (Protection) Act (TADA) court during the first day of verdicts in the 1993 bomb attacks case in Mumbai on 12 September 2006. (AFP)

Sanjay Dutt: Sanjay Dutt was arrested in 1993 for possession of illegal arms. (AGENCIES)

Published Thursday, March 21, 2013

By Staff

Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt's conviction over 1993 Mumbai serial blasts has been upheld by India's Supreme court. Dutt has to surrender within the next four weeks. His sentence has been reduced to five years from six years. The actor has already spent 18 months in jail.

The Supreme Court of India upheld the conviction of Sanjay Dutt under the Indian Arms Act.

The actor was convicted in November 2006 for illegal possession of a 9mm pistol and an AK-56 rifle, but was acquitted of more serious charges of criminal conspiracy under the now defunct anti-terror TADA (Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act.

Sanjay Dutt was earlier sentenced to six years jail term for possessing a weapon illegally. The apex court says that the circumstances and nature of the offence was so serious that Dutt cannot be released on probation.

Dutt will not be able to work as an actor during the remaining three-and-a-half years of prison term, the Indian court said.

According to Indian media, Dutt's sister, Priya Dutt broke down in court when the sentence was read out.

Dutt's lawyer told the Indian media gathered outside the court that he would advise the actor after getting a copy of the judgment.

Ace Bollywood director, Mahesh Bhatt has tweeted that he is 'heartbroken' upon hearing the news of Dutt's conviction.

After a marathon 10-month-long hearing starting on November 1, 2011, the Supreme Court had in August 2012 reserved its verdict on appeals and cross-appeals in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case in which 257 people were killed and 713 were injured.

During the hearing, the bench had for the first time used laptops in the court to peruse the voluminous documents and records of the case and the submissions of various counsel.

On March 12, 1993, Mumbai was rocked by a series of blasts, engineered by fundamentalist elements, which also damaged property worth over Rs 27 crore.

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