Moment of truth for Bollywood's 'Khalnayak'

Sanjay Dutt keenly awaits the verdict to be delivered on Thursday of the case that perhaps changed the course of his life.

Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt, who was tagged as 'Khalnayak' after police arrested him for alleged involvement in 1993 serial blasts, keenly awaits the verdict to be delivered on Thursday of the case that perhaps changed the course of his life.

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Arrested at the time when his tinsel town career was on the upswing, Sanjay was charged with possession of AK-47 rifle that had come in the consignment meant for the serial bomb blasts.

1993 proved unforgettable for this son of an illustrious father, as Sanjay spent more than 18 months in jail, while his personal and professional life too went into a great turmoil.

Sanjay was in Mauritius shooting his film 'khalnayak' when he was summoned by police to Mumbai and subsequently placed under arrest on his arrival at Sahar airport. Although the film proved to be a great hit, the tag of 'khalnayak' shadowed Sanjay for the years to come.

The actor reportedly telephoned the then Mumbai police chief, Amarjeet Samra, soon after his named propped up in the probe, claiming that he had no role in the blasts. The top police official asked Sanjay to appear before police in that case and clarify his stand.

Sanjay arrived from Mauritius, only to be picked up by police at the Sahar airport, and was taken to Mumbai crime branch office where he was grilled for over six hours by the then DCP, Rakesh Maria.

Dutt who still maintained innocence, broke down after he was accosted with the statements of Sameer Hingora and Hanif Kadawala narrating his alleged role.

It is alleged that blasts accused Sameer Hingora, Abu Salem, Baba Chavan delivered an AK-47 rifle and hand grenades to Sanjay Dutt from the consignment that was meant for the subsequent serial blasts.

Sanjay Dutt was arrested on April 19, 1993 and for him the worse began. Brought up in an aristocratic way, life in jail was real difficult for the younger Dutt. For the next 18 months, he spent life as an ordinary undertrial, sleeping on the rough jail bed sheets and spending time with inmates that included petty criminals.

From jail, Sanjay wrote a letter to the Chief Justice of Supreme Court, which was taken up as a writ by the apex court and bail was granted on the condition that he would attend the TADA court proceedings every day.

Shiv Sena, which was highly critical of the Dutts after Sanjay's arrest, mellowed down after Sanjay's father and the then MP, Sunil Dutt intervened. Sena workers who disrupted screening of Sanjay's movie 'Khalnayak', later blunted their attack, following editorial comments by Sena chief expressing sympathy about Sanjay.

No wonder, on the day Sanjay was released on bail, he did two jobs on priority. One, to visit the Siddhivinayak temple, and second, to visit the Sena chief and express reverence. So charged was Sanjay with emotions that he even offered to work for the Sena and contest polls.

The Sena chief, instead, adviced Sanjay to continue his forte in films. His dark days in jail, however, had a silver lining, as Sanjay got a strong support from model Rhea Pillai, whom he subsequently married.

The CBI case against Sanjay goes as follows: Abu Salem and his men went to Dutt's house on January 16, 1993 and gave him three AK-56 rifles, 25 hand grenades, one 9 mm pistol and cartridges.

A couple of days later he returned them two AK-56 rifles, hand grenades and cartridges to accused Hanif Kadawala and Samir Hingora keeping one AK-56 rifle with himself.

After the blasts, Sanjay, who was shooting in a foreign country, called up his friends and allegedly sought their help in destroying the weapon.

On Dutt's instructions, the rifle was destroyed by Yusuf Nullawalla, Kersi Adjenia, Rusi Mulla and Ajay Marwah. The rifle and cartridges formed part of the consignment which was smuggled into India at Dighi port on January 9, 1993, in pursuance to the conspiracy, CBI alleged.

The accused confessed to have destroyed the weapon in a foundry. CBI procured a spring and a rod purported to be the remains of the AK-56 rifle.

However, Sanjay denied the charge of possessing weapon and destroying it saying his confession was taken under duress and he was shown the "sach bol" patta in jail (with which policemen apparently hammered accused). He retracted his confession much later and his friends followed suit.

Initially he took the plea that he did possess the weapon and this was to protect his family as communal riots had broke out in 1992-93 and his father was a social worker. Later, he changed his stand and denied possession of the weapon.

Top lawyers came to defend Sanjay Dutt, namely, Ram Jethmalani, Kapil Sibal, Shanti Bhushan and Satish Maneshinde.