Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt:
says to go to jail without a fight
Sanjay Dutt
MUMBAI, (Reuters) – Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt said today that he will return to jail for his conviction linked to the 1993 Mumbai bombings, giving up a long-running legal battle for his freedom.
The high-earning actor has been on bail since 2007 when he appealed against an original sentence of six years for the illegal possession of weapons in a case linked to the attacks that killed 257 people.
Last week India’s Supreme Court rejected his final appeal against his conviction but reduced his sentence to five years and ordered him to return to custody within four weeks.
Dutt, 53, said he would no longer fight and would not try to seek a pardon.
“Right now I am a shattered man, my family is shattered,” an emotional Dutt told reporters in Mumbai, breaking down and hugging his sister, Priya, who sat beside him.
“I am not going for pardon, there is no debate about it .. The honourable Supreme Court has given me time to surrender and I will surrender at that time.”
Dutt had already spent 18 months in prison before being released on bail so he is expected to serve another 3.5 years.
Dutt was the most high-profile of 100 people involved in the Mumbai bombings trial which ended with 12 people receiving the death penalty and 20 others given life sentences.
In 2007, he was cleared of conspiracy charges in the attacks but found guilty of illegal possession of an AK-56 rifle and a pistol which he claimed were to protect him and his family during a period of rioting in Mumbai.
The court’s five-year sentence handed down last week prompted a debate on whether the actor was judged too harshly, with many in the Bollywood film industry and Press Council of India chief Markandey Katju calling for him to be pardoned.
Projects worth more than 2.5 billion rupees ($46 million) and the fate of various Bollywood movies hang in the balance with Dutt heading back to jail.
The actor has four films in the pipeline, including “Peekay”, “Policegiri”, “Unglee” and a remake of “Zanjeer”.
Dutt, popular for his role as a do-good gangster in the “Munnabhai” films, requested the media and well-wishers to leave him “in peace” in his final days before returning to prison.
“I have a lot of work, I have to finish all that work. I have to spend all this time with my family, so I, with folded hands, tell you all that just let me be in peace till the time I go in,” he said.
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.
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.
Jaya Prada: Sanjay Dutt is innocent. It is very unfortunate. Knowingly or unknowingly, it has been written in his fate that he has to struggle like this. Particularly for Sanjay Dutt, if you see the background of his family. His father Sunil Dutt served a lot for the country, and even in politics he had a very good name. And knowing his nature and character as a great father, and his son, he also innocently may be has done something. I bow to the court's decision, but Sanjay Dutt is very close to my heart. We worked together in so many films. Today, is a very sad day for me.
