Prayers offered to Lord Ganesha by film actor Sanjay Dutt might have worked for him temporarily as on Tuesday he was granted two more days to surrender by the TADA court which had earlier convicted him under charges of Arms Act for possessing an AK-56 rifle and a pistol at his residence.
Dutt, clad in a blue shirt and denims with a (tilak) on his forehead, sat patiently on the last bench meant for the convicts till the arguments on the sentence of other convicts was completed, which took around two hours. Dutt then moved an application through his lawyer Satish Maneshinde pleading that he had to make arrangements for his daughter Trishala's education in the US. She is coming to India on December 23 after the completion of her exams and he needed to spend time with her.
He also stated in his application that his father Sunil Dutt died without making a will and he needed time to manage the family's properties before surrendering. The application also mentioned that Dutt had many incomplete film projects, which urgently required his presence in order to complete them so that producers did not suffer losses.
The application also informed the court that Dutt would invoke the provisions of section 4 of the Probation of Offenders Act at the time of making submissions on his quantum of sentence. Under this provision, he can be released on bond on assurance of good conduct for a period not less than three years.
{{/usCountry}}The application also informed the court that Dutt would invoke the provisions of section 4 of the Probation of Offenders Act at the time of making submissions on his quantum of sentence. Under this provision, he can be released on bond on assurance of good conduct for a period not less than three years.
{{/usCountry}}Opposing the application Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam sought time to file reply and thus the court adjourned the hearing on the application till Thursday when the court is likely to hear applications of other convicts who have sought time to surrender till the court pronounces the sentence.
The TADA court is presently hearing the arguments on the quantum of sentence of each convict and the final sentence is likely to be delivered in January against all the 100 convicts.
Judge Kode has convicted 100 of the 123 accused and acquitted 23 of them.
Email Mustafa Plumber: mustafa.plumber@hindustantimes.com