news details |
|
|
| Jammu shocked as Sanju Baba jailed | | Fans remained glued to TV screens for the day; prayers for Supreme Cour t relief | | Earlyt Times TEAM
Jammu, July 31
In sync with rest of the country, particularly the North India, the conviction and six year sentence for the popular bollywood megastar Sanjay Dutt has come as a big shock for his ardent fans in Jammu .
The superstar was pronounced a six year rigorous imprisonment term in 1993 serial bombing case as a designated TADA Court in Mumbai put to an end one of the longest terror trials in history.
As July 31 was already fixed as the date for announcing verdict for Sanjay Dutt, people in Jammu city remained clued to the TV screens for the day waiting for the judgement. It was a scene of shock and awe for many in the City as the judgement was pronounced in the afternoon.
EARLY TIMES spoke to a cross section of people, particularly those hanging around the television shops watching the coverage and analysis after pronouncement of the verdict. It was an emotional scene as many felt like crying after hearing about the dark days ahead for their favourite star.
"For me it has come as a personal shock as some one very close to me has been awarded a jail term, said Anuj Gupta for Kali Jani", a fan of the superstar. Dutt had admitted to committing a crime by keeping the illegal weapons but he should have been dealt with leniency in view of his good conduct, said Anuj while hoping that his favourite star gets relief from the Supreme Court.
Another fan of Sanjay Dutt, Shalini Sayal said, "we don't know much about the nature of offence and the course of law but the court judgement has come as big shock not for me but for entire family". Shalini, who has watched all Sanjay Dutt starrer movies and maintains a vast collection of actors posters, said, "he is a favourite of our family and we have been keenly watching all developments of this case since November last year when the Judge had first absolved him of the serious charges".
Anuj and Shalini are not the cases in isolation. Hundreds of Jammuites sported sullen faces as news of Dutt's conviction broke out.
The designated judge, who had earlier absolved the Dutt of terror charges but convicted him under the Arms Act, disregarded the actor's plea for leniency under the Probation of Offenders Act (PoA) for good behaviour through the trial period and refused to extend his bail.
"Though the crime was not brutal, cruel, ghastly, inhuman, not anti-social, and not immoral and did not result in any harm to anyone, it was still a serious offence as the Dutt had encouraged others to break the law," the judge said in his order.
A stunned Dutt, who had listened to the judge read out his fate with his head bowed low, appealed to the court for some reprieve and time to surrender, but to no avail.
"I committed a mistake," an unshaven Dutt, dressed in white shirt and blue jeans, said with folded hands. "Please consider my case and permit me to surrender after a few days. I have a lot of family matters to take care of," the actor said, adding that his sister, Congress MP Priya, was pregnant.
"Give me just two days and I will come back," he pleaded, but Kode replied that he could not do so now.
"I have no power now after pronouncing the sentence. I have been very considerate with you and allowed you to be on bail since you were convicted on Nov 28 last year."
"If you want to protect your family, you can take a lawful step. But an unlawful step for the purpose cannot be considered noble," the judge said, responding to Dutt's plea that the weapons were for self-defence and to protect his family.
"He not only committed a crime himself but also made others commit a crime by asking them to destroy the weapon," the Judge added.
"I have conducted myself well for the last 14 years. You know me better than even my family knows me," an emotional Dutt told the Judge.
Lawyers for Dutt, said they were appealing against the sentence in the Supreme Court immediately.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
