Sanjay Dutt's friends get more time to surrender

Mumbai, Dec 14 (UNI) Ahead of the December 19 deadline set by TADA court for film star Sanjay Dutt to surrender following his conviction in the 1993 serial bomb blasts case, the court today extended the deadline for four other convicts, including two friends of the actor, to give themselves up.

Designated judge Pramod Kode today gave time till December 21 to Yusuf Nalwalla and Kersi Adejania, friends of Dutt, and Zebunisa Kazi and Mubeena Bhiwandiwala, on humantarian grounds when their counsel pleaded for such citing various reasons. Their earlier surrender deadline expired today.

Nalwala and Adejania were convicted on the charge of helping the actor in destroying an AK-56 rifle. Kazi was found guilty of accepting weapons transported from the residence of Dutt to her house by co-accused, while Mubeena was convicted on the charge of holding conspiracy meetings at her house.

Dutt, who was found guilty of possessing a 9 mm pistol and the assault rifle under section 3 and 7 of the Arms Act, had been directed to surrender on December 19.

In view of the extension granted to four convicts today, the possibility of Dutt seeking similar extension in surrendering to the court is not ruled out by defence.

Defence lawyer Farhana Shah pleaded for extending the deadline in respect of Adejania, saying the 76-year-old convict had recently undergone cataract operation and had been advised rest for recuperation. She sought time for Nalwalla to surrender, saying he has to look after his seriously ill mother, and 64-year-old Kazi is suffering from multiple ailments, including cardiac problems, while Mubeena has to take care of her two minor school-going children.

Meanwhile, in a related order, the court allowed convicts Munna Gupta and Feroz Malik to make telephone calls to their ailing sister and mother respectively from within the Arthur Road jail where they are lodged.

UNI XR SA VD HT1647