Click to play videoNew Delhi:Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt was on Tuesday held guilty under the Arms Act. The TADA court's pronouncement has generated mixed reactions.
While his family, friends and fans are relieved that Sanjay has been cleared of his alleged involvement in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case, there is a clear lack of euphoria among senior police officials.
Former Mumbai police chief Amarjeet Samra says, "I am satisfied that no matter how high and mighty people may be, the law has prevailed. The court gave ample opportunity to the prosecution to prove its side."
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"Why should prosecution take a lenient view? This was the right legal stand taken," he added.
While shooting for his film Aatish in Mauritius, reports of his involvement appeared in the media and Dutt called up the then Mumbai police chief Samra to plead that he was not involved in the blasts and was innocent.
Samra says possessing deadly weapons and acquiring it from the underworld is a heinous crime. "The fact that Sanjay Dutt had tried to destroy the weapon instead of going to the police and aiding police to track down of the accused in the 1993 Mumbai blasts was in itself a crime," he adds.
"When we got the information that Sanjay was in possession of an AK-56 rifle, we presumed that he had terrorist links and the primary charge of possession of arms has been proved today," says Samra. Slamming Sanjay's supporters for being sentimental about the case, Samra says, "He is not Munnabhai, he has violated the law."
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Former IPS officer Y P Singh pointed out an important aspect of the verdict: "Now that the TADA court has given its judgement, there could be political influences on the CBI. As far as the further course of action is concerned, less of it depends on the judiciary and more on prosecuting agencies like the CBI."
It is for the CBI to decide how far will it go to oppose the bail of Sanjay Dutt, he adds.
Ujjwal Nikam, Public Prosecutor, says, "I don't feel vindicated at all. We have not seen the whole proceedings yet and we will have to wait for the court to give its reasons as to why he was not found guilty under TADA for criminal conspiracy as well. Once I know that, I will be in a better position to comment."
Sanjay's friend and co-star in the Munnabhai series, Arshad Warsi, says, "I am very relieved by the judgement. He has suffered enough. I hope he gets bail and comes home. After 13 years, it has been proved that he is not a terrorist. It could have been worse."
Senior criminal lawyer Ram Jethmalani says he is happy with the outcome. "Sanjay Dutt had been my client in the very same case. I am happy with the outcome, he has escaped. I hope the sentence will not be very severe."
Reacting to Sanjay Dutt being found guilty under the Arms Act by the TADA court, BJP Leader Shatrughan Sinha has said he has always supported Sanjay Dutt, but he cannot comment on the court's decision.
"I have always supported Sanjay Dutt, but this matter is in the court's hand. I have faith in the judiciary, so I cannot comment on its decision," he said.
Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh said Sanjay Dutt is not capable of being involved in a conspiracy and in the planning of the '93 blasts.
"Sunil Dutt aur Nargis ka beta desh rashtra-droh ki saazish mein hoga yeh main nahin maanta aur main sanjay dutt ko vyagtigat roop se bhi jaanta hoon. Sanjay Dutt is tarah ka ladka nahin hai, aur woh aise kaam nahin kar sakta hai. is liye rashtra droh ka aarop nahin laga yeh sachai hi saamne aayi hai.
(I don't believe that Sunil Dutt and Nargis' son will ever be involved in a crime against the nation. He is not that kind of a man and he can never do something like this. And you can see the truth in front of you that he is not been charged guilty of criminal conspiracy.)
Senior criminal lawyer and defence counsel for some of the prime accussed in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case, Majid Memon, a short while ago said, "He possessed and admitted to possessing AK-56, which can't even be lawfully possessed. Therefore, it was difficult for him to get out of the clutches of law. Any person, who has already spent some period in jail - that period is deducted- he can always knock the door of SC," he said.
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