Dutt can’t surrender before jail

Designated TADA Judge GA Sanap on Monday rejected a request from Sanjay Dutt seeking permission to surrender directly to the jail authority instead of the court.

Designated TADA Judge GA Sanap on Monday came down heavily on the advocate representing Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt, who was convicted in the ‘93 blasts case, and rejected a request seeking permission to surrender directly to the jail authority instead of the court.

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While Dutt has already moved the Apex Court asking for a few more weeks before he begins his jail term, an advocate representing him had approached the designated TADA court with an oral request for permission to surrender to jail because of “law and order complications”.

The court, however, took a tough stand on the request, remind the advocate that there is no provision for the accused to surrender directly to jail. The judge dismissed the plea saying that when an accused surrenders, a large number of set legal procedures need to be followed such as verification and identification, which the accused cannot avoid in any way.

Special public prosecutor, Deepak Salvi, said, “The submissions were made orally and no written application was filed. The court however, has not allowed such request.”

The SC had, however, reduced his term from six to five years. The actor has already served 18 months in jail and has to spend three years and six months more to complete the sentence.