TADA court debars media

Mumbai, Feb 23 (UNI) A TADA court, which conducted trial of the 1993, serial bomb blasts case, today debarred the media from attending its post-lunch proceedings on submissions made by police and jail officials.

Judge Pramod Kode issued the gag order when police and jail authorities informed the court that mediapersons were speaking to the blasts' case convicts in the Arthur road jail premises where the designated court is located for security reasons.

Several of the convicts, armed with submissions for the court, were seen distributing these to the media during lunch break. Some television news channels telecast contents of convicts' applications which, inter alia, sought parity in treatment being given to actor-convict Sanjay Dutt.

Earlier, the court admitted Dutt's plea seeking relief under the Probation of Offenders Act and directed the prosecution to file a reply on February 28 on his plea.

The actor was acquitted under the terror act but held guilty under the Arms Act for possessing an Ak-47 rifle and a 9 mm calibre pistol. He can be punished with a minimum 5-year jail sentence if not granted relief he has sought under the Probation of Offenders Act.

UNI