TADA court convicts Sanjay Dutt but says he is not a terrorist

Mumbai, Nov 28 (UNI) Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt was today found guilty under the Arms Act but acquitted under the TADA (P) Act for his role in the 1993 bomb blasts case by a special court here.

Designated Judge Pramod Kode convicted the actor under sections 3 and 7 read with section 25 (1)(A) and 1-B of the Arms Act. The minimum punishment under the sections he has been convicted is five years and maximum ten years.

The Judge, however, acquitted him of charges under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act, saying he is neither a terrorist nor was involved in any terrorist activity.

Mr Kode said the material acquired ( read Ak-56 rifle ) being part of the consignment of arms and ammunition sent by India's most wanted underworld don Dawood Ibrahim and his aide Tiger Memon has not been established and, therefore, Dutt is not guilty of the charge of aiding and abetting terrorism under section 3(3) of the TADA(P) Act.

The Judge accepted the defence plea the accused acquired and posessed the weapon for '' self-defence .'' During the case trial, Sanjay Dutt had said he had acquired the Ak-56 rifle for self-defence because his father Sunil Dutt had helped victims of communal violence in Mumbai in 1992-93 in the aftermath of demolition of Babri Masjid at Ayodhaya in 1992.

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