Sanjay Dutt not to seek pardon

Emotional actor says he will serve jail term

An emotional Sanjay Dutt, convicted for illegal possession of fire arms, said on Thursday that he would “not seek any pardon” and complete his jail term.

Talking to media at his residence, flanked by his sister and Congress MP Priya Dutt, Dutt made a fervent plea: “There are many other people who deserve pardon. I want to tell with folded hands to the media (and) the honourable citizens of the country that I am not going for pardon...I just want to say please allow me to live in peace till I go in.”

Throughout the brief interaction with media, Dutt appeared visibly disturbed. He broke down twice and sought comfort on his sister’s shoulder.

The actor has been sentenced to five-year imprisonment by the Supreme Court for illegal possession of fire arms. The police had seized the same while investigating into the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts.

Dutt was earlier arrested as an accused in the case. However, the designated TADA court, which conducted the trial, did not find any evidence connecting the actor to the blasts, but convicted him to six-year imprisonment for possessing fire arms illegally and disposing of the evidence to hide the crime.

On March 21, the Supreme Court, while upholding the death sentence of Yakub Memon (younger brother of Mushtaq Memon alias Tiger Memon) in the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts, reduced Dutt’s sentence from six to five years along with an order that he should complete his remaining sentence.

The apex court had given him four weeks to consider and pursue any legal recourse.

However, as the actor has decided to undergo the remaining imprisonment, he will be now serving three-and-a-half years in jail as he has already served 18 months of imprisonment earlier.

Talking about the sentence handed down to him, Dutt said: “I have the highest respect for the Supreme Court...I will abide by all the terms and conditions put forth by it.

“The honourable Supreme Court has given me time to surrender and I will surrender in that time...I am shattered and this is the tough time in my life. With folded hands I request the media and citizens to let me be at peace and let me complete my work which is pending.”

At present, the actor has several films in post-production stage like “Policegiri,” “Zanjeer,” “Ungli” and “Peekay” (cameo role).

The actor summed up his press briefing by stating: “These are very, very tough times in my life and in our lives. I want to thank everybody who supported us and my family. I have got very few days left...please let me spend my time with my family. I love my country and its citizens. I love India”.

Thereafter, Dutt, along with his sister, walked back into his residence without answering any questions.