Supreme Court disallows Sanjay Dutt to contest Lok Sabha polls

New Delhi, Mar 31 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Monday disallowed Bollywood actor-turned-politician Sanjay Dutt to contest the general elections following his conviction in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan said: "We are not inclined to suspend his conviction."

"It is not a fit case to grant stay of conviction," the Bench also comprising Justices P Sathasivam and R M Lodha said.

Dutt, who moved the Supreme Court on March 5, is the Samajwadi Party nominee from Lucknow seat.

As per electoral laws, a person convicted for a criminal offence and sentenced to jail for more than two years is barred from running for elections.

On Monday, the apex court had reserved its order on Dutt's plea seeking a stay on his conviction under the Arms Act in connection with the 1993 Mumbai blasts case.

On November 27, 2007, Dutt was granted bail by the apex court. He is out on merely on bail following his conviction in the blasts case. So his conviction stands.

On July 31, 2007, he was sentenced to a jail term of six years for illegal possession of firearms acquired from terrorist acquaintances, who were responsible for the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts.

He was, however, "cleared of terrorism conspiracy charges in the blasts."(ANI)