Sanjay is not a terrorist - judge

Mumbai: Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt was on Tuesday found guilty of possessing weapons under the Indian Arms Act but acquitted of conspiracy charges in connection with serial bomb blasts in Mumbai that killed 257 people in 1993.

In a packed court room at Arthur Road jail complex in central Mumbai, Judge P.D. Kode said: "During my reasoning I have not found him to be a terrorist or destructor."

The judge did not find him guilty under any of the sections under the Terrorist and Disruptive (Prevention) Activities Act (TADA) and also acquitted him of criminal conspiracy under the Indian Penal Code.

This was because the weapons that he acquired were not used in the blasts. Kode also accepted Dutt's plea that he acquired and possessed weapons for self-defence.

However, Dutt was found guilty under the Indian Arms Act, which prohibits any person from acquiring, possessing or carrying any firearm or ammunition without a licence. Dutt was found guilty of possessing a 9mm pistol and an AK-56 rifle. Punishment for these offences may go up to seven years.

Dutt has already spent 16 months in jail. The quantum of his sentence will be announced in the next few weeks. Dutt has been given time until December 19 to surrender before the court.

When an agitated Dutt asked the court's permission to speak, the judge stopped him and said: "Put everything down in your bail application." A disappointed special public prosecutor Ujwal Nikam emerged from the court yesterday and said, "Dutt's bail was extended because he asked for time to surrender. This permission is not normally given but the actor cited certain reasons."

Dutt had asked for time since his 18-year-old daughter was studying in New York and he needed to make arrangements for her education. Moreover, he did not want his producers who had invested millions of rupees to suffer since he had signed several films with them. Therefore, he needed time to complete them.

Sanjay Dutta is a good man. He can come back to the film city again. Every Indian loves him.
S Kumar
Kolkata,India

Sanjay Dutt is a very nice person and a good actor. He does not deserve punishment.
MA Bazaz
Dubai,UAE

Dutt has already spent 16 months in jail. So there should be no more punishment for him.
N Memon
Abu Dhabi,UAE

Sanjay is a good Indian. He could never be a terrorist and deserves a minor punishment. He will come back.
AK Hussain
India,India