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Nov. 27 – Sanjay Dutt granted bail by Supreme Court today. The apex court had earlier deferred the hearing of the bail plea on November 20.

A bench comprising Justices K.G. Balakrishnan, R.V. Ravindran and J.M. Panchal granted bail to the actor who has been serving his sentence in Pune’s Yerwada Jail.

Dutt had approached the apex court following his conviction for illegally keeping arms – an AK 56 rifle and a pistol, relating to the 1993 Mumbai blasts case.

Dutt’s lawyer argued that the apex court should grant him bail on the ground of his conduct, and that he has never broken the law in the past one decade since he was first granted bail in connection with the case.

Sanjay Dutt, son of late Sunil Dutt, who was one of the best actors the country has produced and a Congress party leader has challenged his conviction by TADA court late last month. He has sought bail until the petition was heard.

Sanjay Dutt’s freedom may end Oct 20
By Probir Pramanik

Mumbai, Oct 10 (IANS) Days of freedom for Sanjay Dutt, sentenced to six years in jail after conviction in the 1993 Mumbai serial bombings case, could end on Oct 20 when he has been asked to appear before a special anti-terror court here.

Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Preventive) Acts (TADA) court judge Pramod Kode has summoned on that day all those sentenced in the case relating to the worst terror attack in India on its financial and entertainment capital Mumbai on March 12, 1993.

As many as 257 people were killed and hundreds injured in the blasts that damaged property worth over Rs.300 million.

The judge Tuesday said he would hand over the copies of the full judgement to the convicts on Oct 18, 19, and 20.

The 48-year-old actor was convicted in November last year for illegal possession of weapons ahead of the blasts and sentenced to a six-year prison term on July 30.

He has been out on interim bail granted by the Supreme Court since Aug 23 on the ground that he had not been served with the full text of the TADA court’s judgement.

“Sanjay has been given the last date (Oct 20) as he was the last among the 100-odd convicts to be sentenced,” his lawyer Farhana Shah told IANS Wednesday.

“Once the copies of the full text of the judgement are furnished to him and all the others like him who too are on bail on similar grounds, they will have to surrender to the court and be sent to jail again,” said Shah, who along with Subash Kanse was part of the defence team.

Dutt, one of top Bollywood actors who won many hearts by his portrayal of likeable mobster in two Munnabhai films, spent 23 days in prison after his sentencing.

He was first lodged in the high-security Arthur Road prison in central Mumbai and then shifted to the Yerawada prison in western Maharashtra’s Pune on the night of Aug 2, as the former houses only under-trial prisoners.

In Yerawada jail, the actor had taken up carpentry as his chosen prison labour and was being paid about Rs.20 a day.

Film industry sources say that the actor had over Rs.500 million riding on him till his bail, and has over the past month and a half managed to complete many of his under-production projects.

Along with Dutt, there are 15 convicts who are out on bail, including a few who have been sentenced to life imprisonment.

Mumbai, Aug 27 (IANS) Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt, who is currently out on interim bail, Monday got temporary relief for a month as he will get a copy of his court verdict only Sep 27. He is supposed to surrender once he gets the copy.

Dutt, 48, appeared before P.D. Kode, judge at the special anti-terror court here, along with his lawyer Farhana Shah to receive his copy of the verdict, which will now be given to him a month later.

Dutt was sent to jail July 31 after the special TADA (Terrorist and Disruptive Activities) court sentenced him to six years rigorous imprisonment for illegal possession of arms in connection with the 1993 Mumbai bombings. He was moved to Yerawada Jail in Pune Aug 2.

He was granted interim bail by the Supreme Court Aug 20 and was released from jail last week.

The actor is required to mark his attendance before the Central Bureau of Investigation office here every Friday.

Aug 20 – Sanjay Dutt gets interim bail from Supreme Court

Supreme Court granted bail on Monday to Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt, jailed for six years for receiving guns from gangsters involved in the country’s worst bombings as per TV Reports

Convicted last November on charges of possessing illegal fire arms in the run-up to the Mumbai serial bombings of March 1993, Sanjay Dutt was sentenced to a six-year jail term on July the 31 this year. Actor Sanjay Dutt’s bail application was heard by the Supreme Court Today.

A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan said it was releasing Dutt and others while restoring “status quo ante sentencing“.

However, those who had been in prison before being sentenced by the anti-terror TADA court would continue to be inside jail.

Presently serving his term in Pune’s Yerwada jail, the popular actor had been taken into custody soon after the July pronouncement of the sentence.

He then moved the apex court seeking bail and challenging his conviction under the Arms Act.

Karan Singh, a member of Dutt’s legal team, had told IANS that he hoped the apex court would readily grant interim bail to the actor following the trial court’s failure to supply him its detailed judgement at the time of jailing him. – IANS

Aug. 10 Supreme Court Issues Notice to CBI on Sanjay Dutt’s Case

The Supreme Court on Friday issued notice to the CBI and posted for August 20 Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt`s interim bail application.

“We are not going to pass any order now. We will consider all connected matter on August 20,” a bench headed by Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan said when senior advocate Fali S Nariman mentioned this matter for urgent hearing.

“We want to follow uniform approach,” the bench said. Dutt was given a 6-year jail term in the 1993 serial blasts case by the TADA court on July 31.

The court declined Nariman`s plea that Dutt`s bail plea be heard on Monday.

While seeking early hearing, he said the actor is yet to receive a copy of the judgement and it was not likely to be available by August 24.

Some of the other persons convicted in the case have also applied for bail.

Source: ZEE news

Mumbai, July 31 (IANS) Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt was Tuesday sentenced to six years rigorous imprisonment by a special court in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case and was taken immediately into custody.

Special judge of the anti-terror TADA court P.D. Kode disregarded the actor’s plea for leniency under the Probation of Offenders Act (PoA) for good behaviour through the last 14 years of the trial and refused to extend his bail.

Dutt, 48, who has already served jail for 16 months, had been convicted under the Arms Act for possessing a 9 mm pistol and an AK-56 rifle but absolved of terror charges.

Kode said being in possession of the weapons was an “imminent dangerous act”.

“If you want to protect your family you can take a lawful step but an unlawful step for the purpose cannot be considered noble,” Kode said, responding to Dutt’s plea that the weapons were for self-defence and to protect his family.

“He not only committed a crime himself but also made others commit a crime by asking them to destroy the weapon,” the judge said as Dutt sat in a corner of the crowded courtroom with his head bowed.

His lawyers said they would appeal the decision in the Supreme Court, if possible Tuesday itself.

The serial blasts in March 1993 killed 257 people and was considered one of the world’s worst terror acts.

Mumbai, July 24 (IANS) Three more people were Tuesday sentenced to death for their involvement in the 1993 Mumbai terror bombings, taking the number of those sent to the gallows in the case to 10.

The special anti-terror court sentenced Zakir Hussain Noor Mohammed Sheikh, Abdul Khan and Feroze Amani Malik to death for criminal conspiracy, aiding and abetting terror and murder.

The trio were found guilty of throwing hand grenades at the Mahim fishermen’s colony in central Mumbai, which killed three people and injured six.

Special Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) judge Pramod Kode, however, spared Moin Qureshi capital punishment, as he was only 17 at the time of the terror attacks that killed 257 people, and sentenced him to rigorous life imprisonment.

So far, the court has sentenced 91 of the 100 convicts in the case. While 10 have been sentenced to death, 19 have got life.

The nine convicts awaiting sentencing include Farooq Pawale, who planted the RDX-laden vehicles at the Air India building in south Mumbai and Lucky Petrol Pump near Shiv Sena Bhavan in central Mumbai’s Dadar, four members of prime conspirator Tiger Memon’s family, Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt and three of his associates.

Mumbai, July 17 (IANS) A special anti-terrorism court here Tuesday sentenced two of the accused in the 1993 Mumbai serial bombings to life imprisonment.

The TADA court passed the life sentence on Imtiyaz Gaute and Nasim Ashraf Barmare for criminal conspiracy and aiding and abetting the bombings.

Although Gaute was found guilty under section 120 (B) that calls for the death sentence, the prosecution recommended a lighter sentence since he suffers from HIV. Gaute was also fined Rs.239,500 while Barmare was fined Rs.230,000.

Judge Pramod Kode read out the sentences.

“He (Gaute) had, besides participating in the Shekhadi landings of RDX arms and ammunition prior to the March 12, 1993 serial Mumbai blasts, also planted an RDX-laden scooter at the busy Dhanji Street in central Mumbai, which by the grace of god did not explode,” Kode said.

“The triggering pin of the explosive had got stuck in the RDX and did not explode. Had the explosion taken place it would have killed many within the vicinity, for which he is guilty of attempted murder under the India Penal Code (IPC), besides being held guilty of the Explosive Substances Act and Explosive Act.

“Considering that he is suffering from a life-threatening disease, he is not being awarded the death sentence,” Kode said.

“In the case of Barmare, he was found guilty of throwing a hand grenade at the bay 54 of the Bombay international Airport where aircrafts were parked. Although the grenade exploded it did not cause any death or damage,” Kode said.

“Barmare was also found guilty of participating in the filling up of RDX into vehicles at the Al Hussaini building prior to the bombing and has been sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for life for criminal conspiracy under section 120 (B) and two separate terms of 14 years’ rigorous imprisonment for terror acts but not causing any death or damage to property,” Kode said.

Earlier Gaute, who is HIV positive, pleaded with the court to lodge him at the Arthur Road jail, as he fears he may not get proper treatment for his terminal illness. The court said his plea would be considered.

So far the court has sentenced 78 of the 100 convicted for their role in the March 1993 serial bombings that killed 257 people.

Twenty-two convicts, including Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt – the most high profile of the accused, are still to be sentenced.

Earlier, a convicted former customs official, Somnath Thapa, who is already suffering from cancer and was to be sentenced, failed to appear before the court stating that he was suffering from viral fever.

Special public prosecutor Ujjal Nikam demanded that a non-bailable warrant be issued to Thapa and his sentence be passed in absentia. Kode, however, instructed Thapa’s lawyers to ensure that their client is present in court Wednesday.

“I cannot further delay the sentencing. Ensure that Thapa is present in court Wednesday. Bring all the medical certificates also,” Kode said.

Mumbai, June 25 (IANS) The process of sentencing the accused in the Mumbai 1993 serial bomb blast case was postponed for two days after the concerned judge accidentally broke his right hand Monday.

Special Terrorism and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) judge Pramod Kode was hospitalised, a TADA court official said.

“Judge Kode has broken his right hand after he fell in the bathroom at his residence this morning. The judge has informed us at the court that the ongoing sentencing will be postponed for the next two days,” V.S. Gawas, registrar of the TADA Court, told INAS.

Judge Kode is in the midst of delivering the quantum of sentence for the 100 accused found guilty of their role in the March 12, 1993 serial bombing in Mumbai that killed 257 people and injured about 700.

The court is yet to sentence four family members of the prime accused, absconding Tiger Memon, 15 bomb planters, a senior customs official, Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt and three other co-accused found guilty under the Arms Act.

However, sentencing proceedings have been stalled since June 19 after 16 of the accused challenged the validity of the special court that tried them.

In an application before the special TADA court, the group cited a Supreme Court judgement last month saying that all cases under the TADA Act should be referred to the apex court.

Dutt and three others convicted under the Arms Act as well as the four family members of Tiger Memon are not party to the application.

The court had been sentencing the convicts since May 18. So far, 76 of the 100 convicts have been sentenced with jail terms ranging from life to five years and fines for planning and abetting the attack or for illegal possession of weapons.

Dutt was found guilty of illegal possession of weapons and could face up to 10 years in prison. No date has been set for his sentencing.

The 47-year-old actor, currently on bail, was found guilty under the Arms Act but has been cleared of the charge of conspiracy under the stringent TADA Act.

Dutt, who has already spent 18 months behind bars after the bombings, had sought probation under the Probation of Offenders Act on grounds of good behaviour and his bail has been extended several times since he was convicted last November.

The attacks were allegedly masterminded by India’s most wanted fugitive Dawood Ibrahim, Tiger Memon and Mohammed Dossa – all three have been declared absconders by the TADA Court.

(C) IANS

Mumbai, June 19 (IANS) A special TADA judge Tuesday deferred the sentencing of 16 people accused in the 1993 Mumbai serial bombings till June 21 after they challenged the validity of the anti-terror court.

The 16 accused, in an application before the special Terrorist and Disruptive (Prevention) Activities (TADA) court, cited a Supreme Court judgement last month that said that all cases under the TADA Act should be referred to the apex court.

Special TADA judge P.D. Kode then deferred the sentencing of the accused till June 21 and asked the prosecution to file a reply on their application by that day.

Later, citing a judgement of the apex court, defence counsel Farhana Shah said Justice Markandey Katju had stated that punishing TADA accused after the expiry of the act could amount to violation of Article 14 of the Indian Constitution, that related to equality before law.

“If no such move is taken, then as an alternative the proceedings should be stayed,” Shah told the court.

“Section 1(4) of the TADA states that the act would remain operational till May 24, 1995, and from the next day its provisions were not applicable.”

Opposing the application filed by the accused, special public prosecutor Ujjal Nikam said that the statements made by the Supreme Court judge were merely expressions of the court and were not binding on the lower court.

Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt and three others convicted under the Arms Act as well as the four family members of prime absconding accused Tiger Memon are among those who didn’t file the application.

Meanwhile, Dutt attired in a beige shirt and trademark blue jeans was present in the court Tuesday and sat along with three other convicts waiting to know about his fate.

Dutt faces a maximum of 10 years in prison for illegal possession of weapons that were part of the March 12, 1993 bombings, which were delivered to him by co-accused Abu Salem and others.

The 47-year-old actor, who is presently on bail, was found guilty under the Arms Act but has been cleared of the more charges of conspiracy in the serial bombings under the stringent TADA.

The TADA court has so far sentenced 76 out of 100 people convicted for their role in the serial blasts that claimed 257 lives.