Sanjay Dutt to file appeal in SC next week

New Delhi, Aug 4: Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt would file early next week his appeal in the Supreme Court against his conviction and sentence by the TADA court under the Arms Act. Dutt has been sentenced to six-year rigorous imprisonment and is presently lodged in Yerawada jail in Maharashtra.

He was expected to file his appeal against the TADA court judgement today. However, the special-leave petition (SLP) is still under preparation and is likely to be filed early next week.

Dutt was the last to be convicted in Mumbai serial bomb blast case which had a total of 120 accused, out of which about 12 have been sentenced to death.

The appeal is being prepared by a battery of leading lawyers and the appeal will be accompanied by an application for the suspension of sentence and his release on bail.

Dutt was found in possession of illegal arms, including AK-56 rifle, and also having contacts with some of the known underworld dons who are the main convicts in the case.

Over 200 lives were lost in the Mumbai serial bomb blast which had rocked the metropolits city in March 1993.

UNI