In pics: Sanjay Dutt's earlier trial and jail time
Updated: May 17, 2013 08:04 IST
The 1993 Mumbai serial blast case has haunted actor Sanjay Dutt for 20 years now. The Supreme Court on Thursday (March 21, 2013) gave Sanjay Dutt a five-year sentence for illegal weapons possession in a case linked to the blasts.
Dutt was arrested for the first time on 19 April, 1993 for illegal possession of arms under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Act (TADA). He was released on bail, but later re-arrested
For his son's release, dad Sunil Dutt, who was a Congressman, sought the intervention of Shiv Sena chief, the late Bal Thackeray, who went out of his way to help the Dutts
During his confession to the police, a statement he later retracted, the actor admitted that don Abu Salem visited his house in January 1993 with Samir Hingora and Hanif Kadawala, believed to be close associates of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim
The actor also revealed that he had brought three AK-56 rifles, of which he kept one so as to protect his family, which was receiving threats following the Babri Masjid demolition.
Dutt also added that after he learnt of the bomb blasts and the arrest of Hingora and Kadawala, he panicked and thus asked Yusuf Nulwalla, his friend, to destroy the rifle.
Incidentally, Dutt's film Khalnayak released at a time when the actor was in jail. In the movie, he played a criminal, and the cruel co-incidence was difficult to ignore.
In December 2001, Dutt denied his involvement in the blasts conspiracy and refuted the CBI charge that he possessed an AK-56 rifle and destroyed it. The actor had appeared before designated TADA judge P D Kode to give his point of view on the evidence tendered by CBI.
His father Sunil Dutt was a major source of strength for Sanjay during his trying times, but in May 2005, Sunil Dutt passed away in his sleep, leaving Sanjay to fight a somewhat lonely battle.
While delivering its verdict on Dutt in July 2007, the special TADA court of Judge P D Kode handed out an imprisonment of six years to the actor. In picture: Sanjay Dutt with Bal Thackeray, Shatrughan Sinha and Sunil Dutt.
Dutt moved the Supreme Court in August 2007, challenging his conviction and seeking bail. In November 2007, the actor was granted bail. In picture: Sanjay Dutt seeking divine intervention at Siddhivinayak Temple, Mumbai.
In August 2012, Dutt admitted meeting underworld don Dawood Ibrahim once at a dinner that was hosted by him in Dubai. The actor was answering a question in the Supreme Court.
