SC to hear Sanjay's bail plea

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court will hear on Friday the interim bail plea of Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt, who has been sentenced to six years’ rigorous imprisonment by a Tada court in connection with the Mumbai serial blasts.

Senior counsel Fali S Nariman on Wednesday made a special mention of Dutt’s bail application before a bench headed by the Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan. The bench decided to hear the application on August 10.

Mr Nariman said the actor has been taken into custody even without being served the copy of the judgement, which found him guilty under the Arms Act. The appeal said the procedure adopted by the Tada court has denied Dutt his right to go for an effective appeal, which was a clear violation of Article 21 of the Constitution.

Dutt had moved a petition in the Supreme Court on Tuesday challenging his conviction by the Tada court in the case, saying he was held guilty on a very weak piece of evidence.

In his appeal, Dutt has contended that the Special Tada court has erred in holding him guilty under the Arms Act as no arms and ammunition were recovered from his possession or from his residence.

Dutt was given a six-year jail term in the 1993 serial blasts case by the Tada court on July 31. The actor, who has spent 16 months in prison after his arrest in April 1993, was also fined Rs 25,000 by the special court.

Dutt, 48, was convicted in November last year for the illegal possession of a 9 mm pistol and an AK-56 rifle, but acquitted of more serious charges under the now defunct anti-terror Tada law.