SC grants interim bail to Sanjay Dutt
Expressindia.com
Posted online: Monday, August 20, 2007 at 1044 hours IST
Updated: Monday, August 20, 2007 at 1141 hours IST
New Delhi, August 20: The Supreme Court on Monday granted bail to Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case on Monday.
In his appeal against the TADA court judgment, Dutt sought relief on three grounds. Firstly, that his conduct was impeccable during the last 12 years when he was on bail.
Secondly, that the TADA court had failed to provide him with a copy of the judgement as required under Section 363(1) of CrPC and lastly, that the court disregarded the testimonial of his good conduct from his probation officer while turning down the plea for his release under the Probation of Offenders' Act.
Dutt had also contended that the Special TADA court erred in holding him guilty under the Arms Act as no arms and ammunitions were recovered from his possession or from his residence at his instance. The actor, who had been taken in custody soon after the pronouncement of the sentence, is currently lodged in Pune's Yerwada jail. The TADA court sentenced Dutt to a six years' rigorous imprisonment on July 31 under the Arms Act in connection the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts. The actor had spent 16 months in prison after his arrest in April 1993 and was also fined Rs 25,000 by the court.Dutt, 48, had earlier been convicted in November last year for the illegal possession of a 9mm pistol and an AK-56 rifle. However, he was acquitted of more serious charges under the now defunct anti-terror TADA law.
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