Filmstar Sanjay Dutt, recently ordered by the Supreme Court to serve a sentence of three and a half years in jail over the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts, on Monday moved the court seeking another six months to surrender in order to complete shooting his films in which crores of rupees have been invested.
The court on March 21 upheld Dutt’s conviction under the Arms Act for illegally possessing firearms in connection with the serial blasts. Dutt, who has spent 18 months behind bars, was directed to surrender within four weeks to undergo the remaining term of three years and six months.
In his application, the actor pleaded he should be granted another six months to surrender so that he can complete film projects in which huge sums have been invested by producers, saying they will incur heavy losses if filming remains incomplete.
Three other convicts — Zaibunisha Anwar Kazi, Issaq Mohd Hajwane and Shariff Abdul Gafoor Parker alias Dadabhai — also approached the court seeking extension of time to surrender. They pleaded the time limit fixed by the court be extended till their clemency pleas were decided by the President.
Former Supreme Court judge and Press Council chief Markandey Katju had made a representation to the President on Kazi’ behalf on March 18 and on behalf of the other two on April 10. The Supreme Court upheld the Tada court’s five-year sentence for Kazi, who is 70 and is suffering from cancer.
The petitions will be taken up on Tuesday.
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Dutt asks SC for half a year to finish films
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