India actor Sanjay Dutt to serve five years in jail for role in 1993 Mumbai bomb blast case

India’s Supreme Court on Thursday morning jailed Indian actor Sanjay Dutt for five years for his involvement in 1993 Bombay blasts case. The actor is to surrender to police within four weeks.

Dutt is one of Bollywood’s revered stars and has several blockbusters such as Sadak, Parineeta and Munnabhai series to his credit. His role in the hit Munnabhai series where he played an altruistic do-gooder made him an idol among movie-mad fans. He enjoys a great amount of goodwill among his peers and fans.

The actor was convicted in November 2006 for illegal possession of a 9mm pistol and an AK-56 rifle but was acquitted of more serious charges of criminal conspiracy under the now defunct anti-terror TADA. The serial blasts in Mumbai killed 273 people and injured 713. Dutt has already spent 18 months in jail. The Munnabhai series star is required to be behind bars for the remaining 3 and a half years.

On hearing the verdict, Bollywood stars took to twitter to express their shock. Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt tweeted: “Heart Broken: Just heard that Sanjay Dutt has to go to jail for 5 years. I expected mercy! Alas it did not happen.”

It’s unclear about what will happen to Dutt’s forthcoming film projects. A week ago, Dutt was busy wrapping up his action cop drama Policigiri and had tweeted: “It’s late in the night. Have an early morning shoot for policegiri. Good night and big Jaadu ki jhappi to all my lovely fans.”

The 53-year-old matinee idol had several projects lined up including playing the villain in the modern remake of Zanjeer, starring Priyanka Chopra, and political satire P.K, starring Aamir Khan.

The Supreme Court pronounced its verdict on Thursday on the 124 cross appeals by those convicted by a special court for the 1993 Bombay serial bomb blasts, including Dutt.

A bench of Justice P.Sathasivam and Justice B.S.Chauhan had heard the spate of cross petition by the convicts and the state of Maharashtra over ten months. The hearing that commenced on November 1, 2011, concluded on August 29, 2012.

Justice Sathasivam pronounced judgment under part 6 dealing with cases of conviction under the Arms Act/Explosive Substances Act -- the appeal of Dutt challenging his conviction under the Arms Act and sentence of six-year imprisonment.

The court dealing with the then Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act had convicted and sentenced 12 accused to death, 20 to life imprisonment, and 46 others, including Dutt, were given varying terms of imprisonments.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had faced flak for not challenging the TADA court verdict acquitting Dutt of charges under the TADA but convicting him under the Arms Act and sentencing him to six years imprisonment. However, in the course of the hearing of his appeal, the CBI had opposed the actor’s plea challenging his conviction and sentencing.

A series of 13 car bomb blasts ripped through Mumbai on March 12, 1993, resulting in the death of 257 people and injuries to 713. The locations that were targeted included fisherman’s colony in Mahim Causeway, Zaveri Bazaar, Plaza Cinema, Century Bazaar, Katha Bazaar, Hotel Sea Rock, Sahar Airport, Air India building, Hotel Juhu Centaur, the Bombay Stock Exchange Building and the Passport Office.

The TADA court trial court of Justice P.D. Kode had commenced the trial Nov 4, 1993, and pronounced its 4,230-page verdict on July 31, 2007.