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Sanjay Dutt's fate in 1993 blasts case to be sealed today
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court will on Thursday pronounce its verdict on the 124 cross appeals by those convicted in 2006 by a special court for the 1993 serial bomb blasts in Mumbai, including film star Sanjay Dutt, as well as by the Maharashtra government challenging some acquittals and seeking enhanced sentences for other guilty. Dutt was given a six-year jail term by a TADA court.
Having already spent 18 months behind bars during the trial, the 53-year-old Dutt will have to undergo the rest of the sentence if SC upholds the TADA court's verdict. The actor was convicted 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of a 9mm pistol and an AK-56 rifle, but was acquitted of more serious charges of criminal conspiracy under the now repealed Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Act.
An apex court bench of Justice P Sathasivam and Justice BS Chauhan had heard the spate of cross petition by the convicts and the state of Maharashtra over ten months. The hearing that commenced November 1, 2011 concluded on August 29, 2012.
The judgment is divided into six parts. Justice Sathasivam will pronounce judgment on appeals against death sentences and life imprisonments in parts 1 and 2 respectively. He will also pronounce judgment under part 6 dealing with cases of conviction under the Arms Act/Explosive Substances Act. This part will deal with the appeal of Sanjay Dutt challenging his conviction under the Arms Act and sentence of six-year imprisonment.
Justice Chauhan will pronounce verdicts on the appeals covering varying terms of imprisonment in part 3, judgments dealing with appeals by accused challenging their conviction in part 4, and finally verdicts dealing with appeals filed by the Maharashtra government against the acquittal of accused in part 5. After a marathon hearing, SC had in August 2012 reserved its verdict on the appeals and cross-appeals.
A series of 13 car bomb blasts had ripped through Mumbai on March 12, 1993, resulting in the death of 257 people and injuries to 713, while also damaging property worth over Rs 27 crore.
Having already spent 18 months behind bars during the trial, the 53-year-old Dutt will have to undergo the rest of the sentence if SC upholds the TADA court's verdict. The actor was convicted 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of a 9mm pistol and an AK-56 rifle, but was acquitted of more serious charges of criminal conspiracy under the now repealed Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Act.
An apex court bench of Justice P Sathasivam and Justice BS Chauhan had heard the spate of cross petition by the convicts and the state of Maharashtra over ten months. The hearing that commenced November 1, 2011 concluded on August 29, 2012.
The judgment is divided into six parts. Justice Sathasivam will pronounce judgment on appeals against death sentences and life imprisonments in parts 1 and 2 respectively. He will also pronounce judgment under part 6 dealing with cases of conviction under the Arms Act/Explosive Substances Act. This part will deal with the appeal of Sanjay Dutt challenging his conviction under the Arms Act and sentence of six-year imprisonment.
Justice Chauhan will pronounce verdicts on the appeals covering varying terms of imprisonment in part 3, judgments dealing with appeals by accused challenging their conviction in part 4, and finally verdicts dealing with appeals filed by the Maharashtra government against the acquittal of accused in part 5. After a marathon hearing, SC had in August 2012 reserved its verdict on the appeals and cross-appeals.
A series of 13 car bomb blasts had ripped through Mumbai on March 12, 1993, resulting in the death of 257 people and injuries to 713, while also damaging property worth over Rs 27 crore.
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