Sanjay Dutt to appear in TADA Court on Feb 6

Mumbai, Feb 5: Actor Sanjay Dutt will appear before the special TADA court here tomorrow to surrender after the time granted for his extension comes to an end the same day.

This is Dutt's third extension after being found guilty under the Arms Act on November 28 last year in the 1993 serial blasts case.

On January 15, Dutt had filed an application under the Probation of Offenders Act 1958, pleading the court to release him on probation.

He had submitted affidavits from four eminent citizens -- actor Dilip Kumar, former sheriff Nana Chaudasma, child activist Vipula Kadri and anti-drugs activist Dr Yusuf Merchant -- to strengthen his claim of good conduct. All of them had vouched for his good behaviour and commitment towards social welfare.

Senior counsel V R Manohar, appearing for Dutt, said that the court should exercise its discretionary power after examining the circumstances in which the offence was committed, the nature of the offence and the character of the offender.

He said, ''Under section 4, an offender is entitled to 'request' the court to release him on probation''. Section 4 of the Act states that an accused not facing life imprisonment or death sentence, can be released after considering the conduct of the accused.

Meanwhile, the prosecution submitted that Dutt's case could not be considered under the Probation of Offenders Act as he was in ''conscious possession'' of three AK-47s and a pistol, and was aware of the likely consequences of his action.

The arguments of both defence and prosecution would resume tomorrow.

UNI

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