Sanjay Dutt pleads for leniency

MUMBAI: Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt, who was convicted on Tuesday in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case, today urged the TADA court to give him lesser punishment as he was the sole earning member of the family.

Sanjay told judge P D Kode that the burden of his family had fallen on his shoulders after the death of his father late Sunil Dutt 18 months ago.

"I have a young daughter aged 18 studying in New York and I am supporting her as her grandparents are old. Her future depends on me," he said.

Sanjay said his father had started a cancer foundation 23 years ago after the demise of his mother, actress Nargis Dutt, and now he had taken up the work.

The foundation is based in USA and Canada and it purchases equipment and sends them to India to help cancer patients who cannot afford the treatment.

"I personally raised funds for the Prime Minister's relief fund for Tsunami. I love the country and the people of the country. Please show mercy and leniency on me," Sanjay told the judge.

Admitting he was slightly nervous, he told the court that he was in custody for 16 months prior to his release on bail in October 1995.

"I was on bail for 11 years and there was no complaint of misuse of liberty when I travelled within the country and abroad. I abided by the conditions imposed by the court."

Sanjay said he had no previous case pending against him.