Court may decide Sanjay Dutt's fate next week

Mumbai, Nov 23 (UNI) The designated TADA court here could start delivering judgement on a group of nine accused, including Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt, next week if dismissed Additional Customs Collector Som Nath Thapa continues to remain away from the court because of his illness.

An indication to this effect was today given by special public prosecutor Ujwal Nikam who told the media outside the court that it might pronounce verdict on Sanjay Dutt on November 27. But sources in the designated court of Mr Pramod Kode declined to comment on Mr Nikam's conjecture. They, however, added the possibility of the court taking up the group of nine accused, including Dutt, for verdict sometime next week could not be ruled out.

Yesterday the court granted permission to Dutt to visit Delhi to meet his senior counsel Rajinder Singh. The TADA judge allowed Dutt time till tomorrow to remain away from Mumbai but directed him not to try tocontact any absconding accused in the blasts case any on manner.

Of the total 123 accused who faced trial in the case, the court has so far convicted 81 and acquitted 22. Of the remaining 20, verdict on two will be announced tomorrow.

The court would begin pronouncing verdict on 18 accused from Monday. These include a group of nine accused including Sanjay Dutt, six fishermen charged with throwing hand grenades at Mahim Causeway and the fishermen colony at Mahim and three customs officials, including Thapa. Thapa's accomplices in the case are Customs Inspector R K Singh and Customs Superintendent Sultan Sayed.

Earlier, Thapa had moved an application in the court requesting it not to take up his case this week as he was not well.

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