Sanjay Dutt enters jail, his lawyers head to SC

Mumbai: Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt was sent to Mumbai's Arthur Road Jail on Tuesday afternoon shortly after he was sentenced to six years' rigorous imprisonment under the Arms Act in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case.

This is the same prison where Dutt had been held in 1993. It was also the venue where the special TADA court held the trial in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case.

Dutt bade an emotional farewell to his sisters, Namrata and Priya, before being taken inside the jail. Dutt has not asked for home food in jail, but he has been granted other facilities that he is entitled to.

"Dutt has sought only what he is entitled to and has got them. We have not sought home food," his lawyer Satish Maneshinde said.

Dutt's lawyers have, meanwhile, geared up to challenge the special TADA court verdict in the Supreme Court. "We will appeal against the TADA court order sentencing him to six years' rigorous imprisonment," Maneshinde said.

"We have taken the judgement (of the TADA court) with a heavy heart. We will appeal against the order in the Supreme Court," Maneshinde told journalists after his client was taken into police custody.

Maneshinde, however, said Dutt was not shocked by the judgement. "The actor was prepared for the judgement — either probation or a jail term between five and 10 years. He was not shocked and he has accepted it with a heavy heart," he said.

In the court, Dutt however looked grave when the judge said he and fellow convicts Yusuf Nalwalla and Kersi Adjania would not get the benefit of the Probation of Offenders Act (POA).

The filmstar told the court that he had felt his sentence would be waived under the POA. Since this had not happened, he said he wanted time to make certain arrangements before he was sent to jail. "You (Kode) are more than family for all of us," Dutt said.

Kode, however, said it was not a personal matter and he was only doing his duty to uphold the law.

"I have seen you in the last 10 years and exempted you by giving concessions in all matters. You have utilised the time to the best and shot for movies, doing remarkably well in the film line. Don't be sentimental, be calm and quiet," Kode remarked.

Dutt did not sit alone after his sentence was announced and stayed with co-accused Nalwalla and others, even smiling occasionally.

On his way out of the courtroom, he pleaded with the judge to ask the policemen not to surround him too closely, and Kode obliged.

In a graceful gesture, Dutt also shook hands with the Special Public Prosecutor, Ujjwal Nikam, who had strongly opposed his application under the POA, and said, "Thank you, sir."

The judge allowed Dutt to meet his family members and close friends and to speak to his daughter Trishala, who lives in the US, before being taken to a cell in Arthur Road Jail.

To a question about security for Dutt, Maneshinde said security was the concern of the state government and he hoped it would be taken care of.

To another question whether the celebrity status has affected Dutt, the counsel said there was no pressure on this score and there was no weightage given to it. "Celebrity status does not work in courts," he added.