New Delhi/Mumbai: Actor Sanjay Dutt has been sentenced to five years in prison by the Supreme Court which upheld his conviction for illegally possessing weapons in a case linked to the 1993 serial blasts in Mumbai. Over 250 people were killed in the terror attack. (See case timeline)
Because he has already served 18 months in jail, Mr Dutt will be imprisoned for over three years. The judges, who shaved off a year from his original sentence, ruled out his release on probation describing the nature his crime as "serious." They said Mr Dutt, who is 53, must be jailed within four weeks. (Read: Sanjay Dutt is a strong man, we had prepared him, says lawyer)
"I am heart broken," said the actor in a statement, "I know in my heart that I have always been a good human being, respected the system and always been loyal to my country... God is great and he will guide me through this." (Read full statement)
The actor had originally been sentenced to serve six years in prison for possessing an automatic rifle and a pistol that were supplied to him by men subsequently convicted in the bombings. He then served 18 months in jail for acquiring an AK-56 rifle from gangster Abu Salem before he was released on bail in November 2007, pending an appeal in the Supreme Court. (Read: How a gun changed Sanjay Dutt's life)
Mr Dutt had been acquitted of the more serious charges of terrorism and conspiracy.
Mr Dutt has maintained that he knew nothing about the bombing plot and that he asked for the guns to protect his family after receiving threats during the city's communal riots.
His sister, Priya Dutt, who is a Congress MP, broke down in court after hearing the verdict. (Read)
A total of 100 people had been convicted of involvement in the blasts by a TADA court in 2006.
The Supreme Court upheld the death sentence given to Yakub Memon, who is a brother of Ibrahim 'Tiger' Memon, one of the masterminds of the bombings who is missing. However, death sentences given to 10 other men convicted of carrying out the blasts were commuted to life in prison. Some of the men have been in prison for nearly two decades. (Read)
Because he has already served 18 months in jail, Mr Dutt will be imprisoned for over three years. The judges, who shaved off a year from his original sentence, ruled out his release on probation describing the nature his crime as "serious." They said Mr Dutt, who is 53, must be jailed within four weeks. (Read: Sanjay Dutt is a strong man, we had prepared him, says lawyer)
The actor had originally been sentenced to serve six years in prison for possessing an automatic rifle and a pistol that were supplied to him by men subsequently convicted in the bombings. He then served 18 months in jail for acquiring an AK-56 rifle from gangster Abu Salem before he was released on bail in November 2007, pending an appeal in the Supreme Court. (Read: How a gun changed Sanjay Dutt's life)
Advertisement
Mr Dutt has maintained that he knew nothing about the bombing plot and that he asked for the guns to protect his family after receiving threats during the city's communal riots.
His sister, Priya Dutt, who is a Congress MP, broke down in court after hearing the verdict. (Read)
Advertisement
The Supreme Court upheld the death sentence given to Yakub Memon, who is a brother of Ibrahim 'Tiger' Memon, one of the masterminds of the bombings who is missing. However, death sentences given to 10 other men convicted of carrying out the blasts were commuted to life in prison. Some of the men have been in prison for nearly two decades. (Read)
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Video Of London Startup's Tiffin Service Inspired By Mumbai Dabbawalas Goes Viral Supreme Court To Hear Petitions Relating To NEET-UG Controversy Tomorrow Delhi Government Must Take Blame For Permission To Fell 422 Trees: Supreme Court Amid Huge Row, Karnataka Pauses Bill For Reservation In Private Sector Firms Travel Influencer Aanvi Kamdar Dies After Falling Off A Waterfall Near Mumbai UP Banker Dies By Suicide After 6 Months Of Bullying, Body-Shaming Major Crackdown Launched On Terror Network In J&K After Doda Encounter UK's New Government Vows To Remove 92 Unelected Peers From Upper House EU's Carbon Tax Could Cost India 0.05% Of GDP: Report Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.