TADA court to hear Dutt's plea this week

Mumbai, Jan 14 (UNI) Cinestar Sanjay Dutt, who has been found guilty for his involvement in 1993 blasts case, is expected to make a submission this week over the quantum of the sentence.

Dutt, who was convicted by designated TADA court for possessing an AK-56 rifle and nine mm pistol will appear before the court on January 18 and on the same day, his Council will make submission for leniency.

A team of defense lawyers will make its submission on the quantum of sentence, Advocate Farhana Shah today told UNI, who is one of the lawyers representing the actor.

According to Shah the defense team was also considering to move an application under section 4 of the provision of offender act (POA).

Under the POA, the court is empowered to use discretion to release an accused on a bond of good conduct for a period not exceeding three years. During this period, the court may also call the accused and award the sentence to him.

The actor is trying to invoke this act to seek his release in order to defer the sentence for the time being.

Dutt was found guilty on November 28 under the Arms Act, but was acquitted under the TADA. After he was found guilty, the court had on two occasions granted him time to surrender till January 18 as court has not yet decided the quantum of the punishment to be awarded to the actor and 99 other accused. It includes members of the Memon family, who had masterminded the blast which rocked the metropolis in March 12, 1993.

Meanwhile, in related development, 78 people held guilty by the court have pleaded for leniency on the humanitarian and various other grounds.

UNI