Saswat Panigrahi
The Supreme Court, while pronouncing its verdict in the 1993
Mumbai serial blasts case held that actor Sanjay Dutt has to return to jail to
complete a five year sentence.
Sanjay, son of famous
actor-politician Sunil Dutt and actress Nargis, was arrested under the
Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Act (TADA) following the serial blasts and
has already spent one and half year behind the bar. The Apex Court reduced the
six year jail term awarded to the 52-year-old Dutt by a TADA court, to five
years. Sanjay will now spend three and half more years in jail.
Following the Supreme Court
verdict, many tears were shed over Sanjay. Press Council of India chairman
Justice Markandey Katju, known for his many foot-in-mouth comments, appealed
the Maharashtra Governor to pardon the actor. The Congress-led Centre indicated
that it will take an “appropriate decision” if the actor makes a plea. “The
Governor will use his discretionary power when there is an appeal to him,”
Union Law Minister Ashwani Kumar said. Prime time television went on to portray
Sanjay Dutt as a novice and all but brushed aside the sorrows and sufferings of
the actual victims of the 1993 serial blasts. Some have even argued that
Sanjay’s going to jail will adversely affect a lot of Bollywood business. But
do any of these arguments justify a pardon for Sanjay Dutt?
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