Won’t seek pardon, will surrender soon: Sanjay Dutt

MUMBAI: Movie star Sanjay Dutt will not ask to be pardoned from serving time in prison in the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts case, seeking to draw a line under an issue that has exercised much of Bollywood and bitterly divided political parties.

A teary-eyed Dutt, 53, told reporters outside his home in Bandara in Mumbai on Thursday that said while he and his family were feeling “shattered”, he would not file a pardon petition because he believed there were others who deserved it more than him.

“I have not applied for a pardon. The Supreme Court has given me time and I will surrender at the right time. I have a lot of work to finish. I have to spend all this time with my family. I request media to give me this time. Since I have decided not to appeal for pardon now, there is no debate on this issue,” he said, breaking down as he addressed the media.

Dutt, the son of Bollywood legends Sunil and Nargis Dutt, has already spent 18 months in prison in this case in 1993-94. His sister and Congress MP Priya sat next to him as he read out the statement. Dutt did not take any questions, hugged his sister and walked away quietly.