Mumbai, Mar 28 (PTI) Breaking down repeatedly, Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt, who has been ordered by the Supreme Court to return to jail in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case, today said he is not seeking any pardon and will surrender within the stipulated deadline.
Amid a growing clamour for his clemency, an emotional 53-year-old Dutt broke his silence after the Apex Court upheld his conviction under the Arms Act on March 21 and gave him four weeks time to surrender.
“All I can tell you is I have not applied for pardon,” said Dutt with sister and Congress MP Priya Dutt by his side at his brief media interaction during which he did not take any questions.
“There are many other people who deserve pardon. I want to tell with folded hands to the media, the honourable citizens of the country that when I am not going for pardon then there can be no debate about it,” said Dutt.
“The honourable Supreme Court has given me time to surrender and I will surrender in that time,” he said as Priya comforted him. As Dutt has already served 18 months in jail, he would have to undergo imprisonment for three-and-a-half-years. “I am shattered and this is the tough time in my life. With folded hands I request the media and citizens let me be at peace,” he said.
Dutt was ordered by the apex court to return to prison to complete a five-year sentence after it reduced the original six-year term awarded by a TADA court which convicted him for possessing illegal firearms.
The actor had been jailed in 2005 for six years for the gun charges but only served 18 months before being released in 2007 on bail.
“These are very, very tough times in my life and in our lives. I want to thank everybody who supported us and me. I just want to tell everyone from the media that I have got very few days left and I want to finish all my work. I also have to spend time with my family,” Dutt said. Today is the first time that Dutt has ventured out of his house in suburban Bandra since the Supreme Court verdict. He made the remarks before leaving for a film shoot.
“I love my country and its citizens. I love India,” he said.
Cong not to interfere, BJP says verdict be adhered
Actor Sanjay Dutt’s remarks that he will not seek pardon and surrender soon drew varied reactions from political parties with the Congress saying it would not like to interfere in a legal matter while the BJP said he should follow the court verdict.
“We do not interfere in any legal matter of any sort whether it is by intervention or by remarks. The court delivers judgements and whatever judgement the courts deliver, we respect that,” Congress spokesperson Rashid Alvi told reporters. He said the Congress does not comment on such matters and never “interferes or intervenes” in legal proceedings in any manner. (Agencies)