Click to play videoMumbai: Actor Sanjay Dutt was on Tuesday absolved of conspiracy in the 1993 Mumbai blasts but he still faces a tough legal battle.
The TADA court has found him guilty of illegal possession of weapons, a charge for which he may have to serve time behind bars. For now the actor's bail has been extended till the December 19—a period of time during which the court may announce the quantum of sentence.
If the sentence is not announced by December 19, Dutt's lawyers will apply for a further extension of bail. If the court announces a sentence of less than the 18 months, Dutt will walk out a free man as he has already served 18 months in jail as an undertrial.
But if the sentence is of more than 18 months then Dutt's lawyers will consider an appeal in a higher court. The higher court may grant bail in which case Dutt will remain free until the higher court delivers the final verdict.
Technically, Dutt's lawyers have the option of approaching either the Bombay High Court or the Supreme Court, but with 13 years of legal battles already behind him the chances are the actor will go straightaway to the apex court in the hope of a quick settlement.
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