Reprieve for Sanjay Dutt

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday granted interim bail to Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt, who has been sentenced to six years’ impris-onment by the TADA court in connection with the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case.

A bench headed by Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan enlarged Dutt on bail till the TADA court in Mumbai provides him with a copy of the judgement.

The bench said immediately after getting the copy of the judgement, the Bollywood actor would have to surrender. Dutt will also have to appear once in a week before the nearest local police station. After getting the copy of the judgement, he can apply for regular bail.

While providing relief to Dutt, the court took into consideration that he was on bail since October 16, 1995 till July 31, 2007, the day he was sentenced to six-year jail term. The court said that the passport of Dutt will remain with the trial court and he will not leave the country without its permission.

The court also granted interim bail to Sameer Hingora, Aziz Ahmed Mohammad Ahmed Sheikh, Ibrahim Musa Chauhan alias Baba Chauhan, Yusuf Mohsin Nulwalla and a woman convict, Zaibunnisa Anwar Kazi. The court granted them bail while laying down the same conditions as put forth to Dutt.