Sanjay Dutt walks from freedom to confinement

Mumbai, July 31 (UNI) Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt, accompanied by his lawyers, entered the TADA court premises this morning and the next few hours changed the course of the life of one of the leading actors of Hindi Cinema.

Clad in white shirt and a pair of blue jeans, ''Munnabhai'' appeared tense but hopeful of getting off the hook while entering the courtroom at 1050 hrs.

Dutt appeared restless when Judge Kode pronounced the verdict in the case of Rusi Mulla who was let off under provisons of the Probation of Offenders Act.

When the judge released Mulla, there was a look of relief on the face of Dutt who was sitting along with three other accused on the bench.

But, Dutt received a shock soon after when Judge Kode said he had not called for the probation report in Dutt's case as he doesn.t deserve relief under the Probation of Offenders Act.

Judge Kode came down heavily on the actor about his past criminal background and observed that prior to taking possesion of the AK-57 rifle, Dutt had a meeting in Dubai with the members of the underworld. This shows he was repeateadly involved in crimial activities.

When the Judge handed down the sentence to Dutt, he repeatedly requested the court, ''Please keep me in Barrack No 10 of the jail and allow me to be with my friend Yusuf Nalwalla.'' Barrack No 10 in the Arthur Road jail reportedly has good sanitation facilities.

Judge Kode, in a bid to comfort the actor said, ''You made a mistake, its okay. I have full faith in you. You are at the top in your field. This is a momentary thing.'' ''I can't exceed my limit and release you,'' the Judge added.

Dutt was later taken to the registrar's room for completion of other formalities before he was taken to Arthur Road jail. A shattered Dutt embraced mediapersons who were present in the room.

Later in the day, his sisters Priya and Namrata and brother-in-law Kumar Gaurav visited the actor. Sanjay Dutt handed over his belongings to them as he is not allowed to carry them along with him in the jail.

UNI