Special court to hear Sanjay Dutt's plea today

Mumbai: A special court, which had convicted actor Sanjay Dutt of possessing illegal arms in the 1993 Mumbai blasts trial, will today hear arguments on his bail plea seeking probation for good conduct.

The 48-year-old actor had urged for leniency under the Probation of Offenders Act before the special Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Preventive) Act (Tada) court that convicted him in November 2006 for possessing illegal arms but absolved him of terror conspiracy.

On February 8, special judge Promod Kode had granted Dutt extension of time to surrender until further orders. He will hear arguments of the defence and the prosecution on an application moved by Dutt under Section 4 of the Probation of Offenders Act.

"Under the Act, the court has the discretion to release a convict on a bond of 'good' conduct instead of sentencing him to jail for a period not extending three years and during this tenure it can call and give him punishment," said Dutt's senior counsel V.K. Manohar.

Illegally acquired

Opposing the actor's plea, special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam had earlier said that Dutt was a habitual offender who, despite possessing a licensed pistol, had illegally acquired a 9 mm pistol and an AK-56 rifle purportedly for self-protection and the security of his family.

"Sanjay Dutt was given the AK-56 rifle and ammunition by co-accused Abu Salem and Baba Chowan at the behest of the prime accused in the blasts and mobster Dawood Ebrahim's brother Anees Ebrahim," Nikam had told the court.

"Dutt was already in possession of four firearms, before receiving the AK-56 and other deadly weapons, which were sufficient for his self defence and that of his family. There was no need for him to keep the AK-56 rifle," Nikam had added.

Meanwhile, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had asked the special court on February 15 to award maximum sentence to the actor along with the other 100 guilty.

Under the Arms Act, Dutt faces punishment ranging from five to 10 years.