Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt has been pronounced guilty in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case.Dutt has been found guilty under the Arms Act and not TADA.In a major relief, Justice Kode while announcing the judgement said Dutt was not a "terrorist".According to reports, Dutt is likely to seek bail on Tuesday.The famed actor of Munnabhai fame could get a maximum sentence of three years.Bollywood has come out in open support of Dutt with director Karan Johar and actor Boman Irani welcoming the verdict."Sanjay is like family to us and it's heartening to know that the verdict is finally out. Everyone knows that Sanju is an innocent man," said Johar.The main charges against Sanjay Dutt include receiving some of the weapons used in the blasts from underworld don Abu Salem and keeping them at his residence.Dutt had actually admitted to the charges in his confession, which he made shortly after his arrest, but he later retracted the same. Meanwhile, co-accused Yusuf Nulwala and Kersi Adajania have also been found guilty under the Arms Act.
Charges
Section
Sentence
Verdict
Criminal conspiracy
Section 120(B) IPC
Minimum five years
Acquitted
Aiding and abetting terrorist acts by keeping weapons in his possesion
Section 3 (3) TADA
Minimum five years
Acquitted
Possession of arms and ammunition
Section 5 (TADA)
Minimum five years
Acquitted
Possession of arms and ammunition
Sections 3,7 and 25 of Arms Act
Three years
Convicted
Contravening provisions of Arms Act
Section 6 (TADA)
Five years
Acquitted
Dutt's confessionIn his confession recorded on April 22,1993, Sanjay Dutt had admitted that Salem had visited his Pali Hill residence in January 1993.The actor maintained that Salem was brought to his home by Samir Hingora and Hanif Kadawala - proprietors of Magnum Video, who are close associates of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim.Salem, according to Dutt, had brought three AK 56 rifles, some magazines and 250 rounds. But Dutt said he kept only one and returned two AK 56s back to Samir and Hanif. Dutt said he needed the weapons to protect his family as they had received threatening calls during the 1992 Mumbai riots.Despite repeated complaints, he said the police did not give the family any protection. But when he heard about the blasts and the arrest of Samir and Hanif, he asked his friend Nulwala to destroy the gun.
Charges: Dutt & Company
Accused
Charges
Sanjay Dutt
Received weapons from Abu Salem from consignment of arms used in Mumbai blasts
Samir Hingora
Took Abu Salem to Dutt's residence
Ibrahim Moosa
Accompanied Abu Salem, Samir Hingora to deliver arms at Dutt's residence
Manzoor Ahmed
Convicted of carrying arms out of Dutt's residence
Zebunissa
Kept at home weapons earlier hidden in Dutt's residence
Yusuf Nulwala
Destroyed an AK 56 rifle on Dutt's instructions
Kersi Adajania
Helped Nulwala destroy the AK 56 rifle in his foundry
Rusi Mulla
Kept Dutt's pistol at his residence. Later gave it to Marwah
Ajay Marwah
Acquitted of storing Dutt's pistol at home
