Mumbai:
Actor Sanjay Dutt, convicted in the 1993 Bombay blasts case for possessing illegal weapons, will surrender before a special TADA court in Mumbai today. He will be taken into custody and sent first to Arthur Road Jail and then to Pune's Yerawada jail to complete his prison term of five years.
The actor has already served 18 months in jail 20 years ago; the Supreme Court has directed him to serve another 42 months, reducing a trial court sentence of six years to five years.
The actor is expected to be first sent to the Arthur Road Jail in Mumbai and then is expected to be shifted to Yerwada Jail in Pune. Authorities at the Arthur Road Jail received an anonymous letter yesterday stating that there is a threat to the actor's life in that prison.
On Tuesday, Mr Dutt had pleaded in court that he be allowed to surrender directly at the Yerawada Jail as he feared a threat to his life from fundamentalist groups. On Wednesday he withdrew his plea, without giving reasons.
The police and jail authorities have promised adequate security for Mr Dutt, but said no special arrangements have been made for the celebrity at the Pune jail.
The 56 days since the Supreme Court upheld his conviction on March 21 have been dramatic. After the verdict, a stunned Dutt appeared with folded hands and bowed head and said he would not appeal against the order. He wept on camera and sought that he be allowed privacy.
As the date for his surrender drew closer, however, the actor appealed that he be given six months more to complete his seven films of the floor since it affected the livelihood of many people. The court gave him a month instead to wrap up all work. That month ends at 4 pm today.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court rejected the petition of one of Mr Dutt's producers that he be given more time to finish his film. Last week, the court had also dismissed Mr Dutt's plea seeking a review of its judgement that upheld his conviction and sentence.
Sanjay Dutt has been convicted and sentenced for illegally possessing a 9 mm pistol and an AK-56 rifle that were part of a consignment of weapons and explosives brought to India for coordinated serial blasts that killed 257 people and injured over 700 in 1993.
Two men, Keri Adajania and Yusuf Nullwala, who destroyed the AK-56 rifle, will also surrender with Mr Dutt today.