Click to play videoNew Delhi: Actor Sanjay Dutt's lawyer Satish Maneshinde filed a bail plea in the Supreme Court on Tuesday against the actor's sentencing in 1993 Mumbai blasts.
In the petition, Dutt challenged his conviction by the TADA court under the Arms Act arguing his conviction was based on the confessional statement which he had retracted while appearing before the court.
His lawyers argued a statement that has been retracted cannot be the basis of a sentencing.
Special TADA court judge P D Kode had sentenced the actor on July 31 in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case. Dutt is currently lodged in Pune's Yerawada Jail where he is serving the sentence.
CBI roadblock
With the CBI making clear it would oppose the plea and the actor’s supporters being warned of legal action for running a support campaign, the chances of the actor walking out a free man seem bleak.
There were also reports of CBI hiring public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam to challenge Dutt’s plea, but the agency ruled out the possibility on Monday.
"Though we haven't finalised any lawyer yet, we are not considering Nigam's services. We will follow the normal procedure," CBI director Vijay Shankar told journalists on Monday.
Nikam had threatened Dutt’s friends from film industry with action for contempt of court if they initiated a signature campaign for the actor’s release.
Following the warning, Dutt’s sister, MP Priya Dutt, appealed to Bollywood and the actor’s fans to refrain from the campaign, saying she wanted to take the “legal route” to securing Dutt’s release.
Dutt sentenced to six years' rigorous imprisonment under Arms Act for being in possession of 'dangerous weapons' in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case.
He was also fined Rs 25, 000 by the special TADA court and was kept in Mumbai’s high-security Arthur Road Jail before being moved to the Yerawada Jail in Pune on August 1.
Meanwhile, one of the accused - who delivered arms at Dutt residence before the March 12, 1993 - now moved the Supreme Court for bail.
Businessman Baba Musa Chouhan, who was convicted under TADA and sentenced to 10 years' rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs 2.77 lakh, has filed a special leave petition before the apex court for bail.
(With agency inputs)
(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest)
More on IBNLive Right Now
MOST SHARED
PHOTOGALLERY
