New Delhi: Delivering its verdict in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case, the Supreme Court on Thursday upheld Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt's conviction under the Arms Act but commuted his jail sentence from six years to five.
Dutt had been given six-year jail term by the TADA court. As he has already spent 18 months in jail, he will now have to spend another three and a half years in prison. The convicts who are on bail, including Sanjay Dutt, will have to surrender within four weeks. Meanwhile, as per reports, he has decided to file a review petition against the verdict.
Delivering the verdict the SC said, “The circumstances and nature of offence was so serious that Dutt cannot be released on probation.” It also said that the evidence and materials perused by TADA court in arriving at the decision against the actor Dutt were correct.
Dutt had been given six-year jail term by the TADA court. As he has already spent 18 months in jail, he will now have to spend another three and a half years in prison. The convicts who are on bail, including Sanjay Dutt, will have to surrender within four weeks. Meanwhile, as per reports, he has decided to file a review petition against the verdict.
Delivering the verdict the SC said, “The circumstances and nature of offence was so serious that Dutt cannot be released on probation.” It also said that the evidence and materials perused by TADA court in arriving at the decision against the actor Dutt were correct.
Dutt 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.
Just after the verdict was announced, a visibly upset Priya Dutt, the actor’s sister, talking to reporters outside the court said, “I really don’t know what to say right now.”
Talking to a news channel Dutt’s counsel Satish Maneshinde said, “Sanjay Dutt is strong enough to face any sentence awarded by the Supreme Court.” He also said that he had talked to Dutt after the verdict was announced.
The lawyer quoted the actor as saying: “I have accepted the judgement of the court with all humility and I respect the sentence.”
As per reports around Rs 300 to 350 crores is riding on Sanjay Dutt’s upcoming film projects.
The SC also upheld the death sentence of Yakub Abdul Razak Memon and described him as the biggest accused in the case.
The SC said, "We have no doubt about Memon's role in the blasts. Memon and all absconding accused were ‘archers’ and rest of the accused were ‘arrows’ in their hands.”
Yakub Memon is Tiger Memon's brother. Tiger along with Dawood Ibrahim is said to be the mastermind of the blasts. They fled India after the blasts.
The apex court also came down heavily on Pakistan. The SC bench said that Pakistan's complicity in the heinous crime could not be denied.
“The accused were trained in bomb making and to handle sophisticated weapons in Pakistan,” SC said adding, “Management and conspiracy of blasts were done by Dawood Ibrahim and others.”
It also said that Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI was also involved in the Mumbai blasts.
In another observation, the apex court said, “Police, customs and coastal guards are also to be blamed for 1993 blasts.”
Just after the verdict was announced, a visibly upset Priya Dutt, the actor’s sister, talking to reporters outside the court said, “I really don’t know what to say right now.”
Talking to a news channel Dutt’s counsel Satish Maneshinde said, “Sanjay Dutt is strong enough to face any sentence awarded by the Supreme Court.” He also said that he had talked to Dutt after the verdict was announced.
As per reports around Rs 300 to 350 crores is riding on Sanjay Dutt’s upcoming film projects.
The SC also upheld the death sentence of Yakub Abdul Razak Memon and described him as the biggest accused in the case.
The SC said, "We have no doubt about Memon's role in the blasts. Memon and all absconding accused were ‘archers’ and rest of the accused were ‘arrows’ in their hands.”
Yakub Memon is Tiger Memon's brother. Tiger along with Dawood Ibrahim is said to be the mastermind of the blasts. They fled India after the blasts.
The apex court also came down heavily on Pakistan. The SC bench said that Pakistan's complicity in the heinous crime could not be denied.
“The accused were trained in bomb making and to handle sophisticated weapons in Pakistan,” SC said adding, “Management and conspiracy of blasts were done by Dawood Ibrahim and others.”
It also said that Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI was also involved in the Mumbai blasts.
In another observation, the apex court said, “Police, customs and coastal guards are also to be blamed for 1993 blasts.”
Meanwhile, the court reduced the death sentence of ten others to life term on the ground that the convicts were behind bars for 20 years and their economic condition was weak.” However, they will remain in jail till death.
The apex court had heard appeals and cross-appeals filed by and against 100 people who were convicted by the special TADA court in 2006 in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case.
After a marathon 10-month-long hearing beginning November 1, 2011, the Supreme Court had in August 2012 reserved its verdict on appeals and cross-appeals in the 1993 Mumbai serial terror bombing 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 record of the case and the submissions of various counsel.
The apex court had heard appeals and cross-appeals filed by and against 100 people who were convicted by the special TADA court in 2006 in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case.
After a marathon 10-month-long hearing beginning November 1, 2011, the Supreme Court had in August 2012 reserved its verdict on appeals and cross-appeals in the 1993 Mumbai serial terror bombing 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 record of the case and the submissions of various counsel.
No comments:
Post a Comment