Sanjay Dutt sentenced to 6 years in prison

[Parveen Komal]

One of Bollywood's biggest names, Sanjay Dutt, was today jailed for six years on the last day of an epic trial into India's worst terrorist attack, the bombings in Mumbai in 1993 that claimed the lives of 257 people.
Dutt, whose early success was founded on action hero roles but later turned his hand to comedy, was found guilty of illegally possessing three AK-56 rifles, a pistol and ammunition in a trial that lasted more than a dozen years.
The actor claimed he feared for his life after the notorious "Black Friday" bombings, which were allegedly staged by Mumbai's Muslim-dominated mafia in retaliation for deadly Hindu-Muslim clashes a few months earlier.
However, the judge rejected this defence and also refused bail. "The crime was not brutal and did not result in any harm to anyone," said the judge, Pramod Kode. But it was an "eminently dangerous act", which encouraged others to break the law.

[Parveen Komal]

Barrack number 10 of the high-security Arthur Road Jail here will be actor Sanjay Dutt's address for at least the next two days after he was today given a six- year jail term in the 1993 serial blasts case. Dutt will be held in a cell in the same building as gangster Abu Salem, who allegedly supplied Dutt a consignment of weapons and ammunition 14 years ago, sources said.

bombay Blast 1993

[Parveen Komal]

Film personalities on Tuesday rallied behind actor Sanjay Dutt after he was given a six-year jail term in the 1993 serial blasts case, saying he had got punishment that exceeded the "error" he had committed.

I feel Sanjay became a victim of a conspiracy of circumstances. -- Actor and BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha

He has the prayers of the entire film fraternity with him. We believe him completely. -- Actor Suniel Shetty

[Parveen Komal]

After Sanjay Dutt was sentenced to six years imprisonment in the 1993 serial blasts case, more than Rs 100 crore riding on him will now remain in limbo as the actor's future remains uncertain.

"More than Rs 100 crore is riding on Sanjay Dutt and his sentencing is a definite setback for directors like Sanjay Gadhvi, Abbas Mustan and Rajkumar Hirani, who have major projects planned with him," editor of Trade Guide, Taran Adarsh, said here.

[Rusty Kane]

One of Bollywood's biggest names, Sanjay Dutt, was today jailed for six years on the last day of an epic trial into India's worst terrorist attack, the bombings in Mumbai in 1993 that claimed the lives of 257 people.
Dutt, whose early success was founded on action hero roles but later turned his hand to comedy, was found guilty of illegally possessing three AK-56 rifles, a pistol and ammunition in a trial that lasted more than a dozen years.
The actor claimed he feared for his life after the notorious "Black Friday" bombings, which were allegedly staged by Mumbai's Muslim-dominated mafia in retaliation for deadly Hindu-Muslim clashes a few months earlier.
However, the judge rejected this defence and also refused bail. "The crime was not brutal and did not result in any harm to anyone," said the judge, Pramod Kode. But it was an "eminently dangerous act", which encouraged others to break the law.

Sanjay Dutt should have starred in Hollywood not Bollywood, then it would have been his right to have guns to protect himself.