Update July 31st’07: Sanjay Dutt sentenced to six years rigorous imprisonment, though free of being indicted in the TADA category. He has already served eighteen months… as well as 14 years of stressful waiting till the matter was disposed. One might have expected that the remainder might have been pardoned due to factors ranging from social service to good behaviour. as well as having no case against him all of these years. Maybe there is more to come…but as of now, this is the verdict.
Rather strong severe. His having dinner with Dawood proved to be his downfall as well as trying to destroy the arms..which in fact proves he had no intention of using them. His appeal in the Supreme Court is pending.
********************************************************
Sanjay Dutt is not a terrorist- Justice Kode
One chapter in the life of Sanjay Dutt, a matinee idol, seems to be reaching a happy conclusion. Thirteen years, almost fourteen, the period of ‘banvas’, for Sanju baba as he is fondly referred to by the film fraternity has been wrought with tumultous ups and downs, a sea of challenging situations, when words like peace, happiness, contentment may have been on the other shore, despite being a star and privy to the best life can afford..A rare example in Bollywood, for that matter, Hollywood as well.
The verdict finally pronounced to day, absolved him totally and with finality from being involved in the Mumbai blasts of ’93. Instead was convicted under the Arms act, for possessing illegal arms and ammunition. It is pertinent to note that Sanjay has already served 18 months in prison, while the trial was on, as interim period in prosecution for the Tada cases, which today he stands free of. Understandably, a big relief for him and his family to be out of the clutches of the draconian law with its rather horrendous implications..also to be finally rid of the humiliation of being addressed as a ‘terrorist’ for 13 years!!
What was the compulsion that led him to acquire the AK56? Perhaps the same that would make him to buy a Hummer! How many of us knew in 1993 that buying a weapon of that class was illegal to embroil us in such a catastrophe. One recalls how this very same weapon was handed over to actor Sridevi, by K.P.S. Gill, during her visit to Punjab for a shoot..maybe only to hold and get the feel of. What therefore is the signal of this gesture for a common man? One is not attempting to whitewash his act. But we have to also bear in mind that in the early 90’s, Bollywood was almost like a feudal territiory of the underworld. Celebrities were hobnobbing with them either out of fear, or because they happened to be the Producers, or worse still because they were coerced into appearing at their privated do’s, to perform at their behest.
It was Sanjay Dutts misfortune that his ‘munna like’ naivete, susceptibility, immaturity, led him to not only befriend these anti social elements but also fall prey to their machinantions. However to conclude that he was a’Bhai’, a conspirator in the blasts was a far fetched and malicious theory propounded summarily because there were political undertones to it.. Sunil Dutt, his father was a Congress officiando who was growing by leaps and bounds in popularity and goodwill, much to the consternation of the opposing parties…the rest is history.
He has been granted bail or rather his bail has been extended. His term, if convicted can extend from 1-10 years. The prosecution is not in a mood to appeal to the Supreme Court against the order which freed him from their allegations of Tada provisions.
If the court takes into consideration the sentence he has already served in rather extreme conditions, of 18 months, which was provisional, and to do with Tada, also the tenure of 13 years with no further icident of misconduct/misdemeanour, there is a chance that abiding by the proviso of ‘mitigation of sentence’, he will be let off easily or with minimum term.
If anything, this verdict has proved that no leniency had been shown but a fair, just and balanced verdict had been pronounced, since Sanjay had confessed to be in the possession of these arms.
“Its fools who learn from their own experience..wise learn from others experiences”..wish somebody had warned Sanjay..Hope others, now get warned, in time.
The title was inspired from a ticker on aaj tak
Sachiniti 
Very well worded post- munna and bhai. Sanjay behaved like a Munna and suffered almost as if he had been a bhai. He was immature but certainly no terrorist.
Comment by Hiren — November 28, 2006 @ 8:37 pm |
Influences abound all around us constantly!!
Raised my son in the projects almost 10 years; and it was difficult teaching him what kids to befriend… and that some kids, were not good kids… and that just being “with them” would make him guilty of badness too….
Seems like this is what happened in this scenario?? OR
Comment by North — November 29, 2006 @ 10:36 am |
I think he has been long enough in jail and then for the last 13 years has suffered so much…He should be let off now..as if our poiticians dont do worse and who is to question them
Comment by neha — November 29, 2006 @ 12:14 pm |
Thanks Hiren 🙂
Sadly the price of immaturity for those living in a fish bowl, is catastrophic! SD am sure can do a Phd now on repurcussions of living life in a fast lane and regretting it sorely.
Hey North,
Yes he was gullible to extraneous influences, moreso because of leading a stars life which at most times is so far removed from reality, that its akin to walking on air.. a feeling of invincibility sets in and there goes the bubble.
Hi neha,
Yeah..he should be let off..but..Parity of quantum of sentence is a major determining factor however.The media if you have been watching the channels like CNN etc, are all agog waiting to kick up a fuss, create a stir if they get wind of any partiality shown towards him..for them its just another bit of news to rake in the moolah.
Comment by kaveetaakaul — November 29, 2006 @ 3:03 pm |
again, whoever said life was/is fair..
can we really afford to learn the hard way.. fools, slow learners et all.. lifez beginning to go back to the old greek dayz wen the toughest baby survived- the fall from over a cliff!
sanjan dutt, really has that innocence in him… i mean, one of the very few actorz whoz smile aint fake- guess hez not into acting for the camera, but maybe feels his stuff thru..
it wud be nice to let this tada crap get over n they shift focus to the tons of garbage so-called politicos feed the mass hiding the underworld connectionz… where money matters more than even the tricolour..
come on! isnt it time to just let the gut take over from the leather bound volumes of law- blinded by birth, burdened by power n bought by the rich!!
‘munna’ can survive with the ‘jhappi’ n his ‘gandhigiri’ setting the screen on fire, but real life… its still a balck mark.
wud love to see him cleansed.. coz again ya, that man has a lot in him but not shit for the country…
hope he wages the war n wins the cause- lage raho munna (hez bahi also naa… adorable one:))
Comment by saptarshi — November 30, 2006 @ 11:51 am |
Ya sapt ..’jhappis’ badly needed. From what I gather, the media is unrelenting..tough times haven’t ended in toto..there is till the ‘poonch’ of the ‘haathi’..hopefully 🙂
As far as gut taking over from bookish law..well it is in this case advisabe, but it can be a double edged sword pal..plenty of wheeler dealers who’d then make mince of our vulnerability..sigh..why cannot we be ruled by just the need to be good, feel good and do good? utopia.
Comment by kaveetaakaul — November 30, 2006 @ 12:11 pm |
Kaveetaa… how did you manage to escape the facade of celebrity stardom.. and come out so brilliantly wise, funny and with a penchant for telling it like it is….
Comment by North — December 1, 2006 @ 9:56 am |
North..You making me blush now!! And you are also immensely kind.
I aint no celebrity North, just a soul traversing, plodding on in search of that kernel f truth which makes it all worthwhile.
🙂
Comment by kaveetaakaul — December 1, 2006 @ 10:37 am |