Dutt to seek further bail extension

Actor Sanjay Dutt will once again seek time to surrender before the Tada court on Tuesday when the bail extension granted to him lapses.

Dutt, who has been acquitted of Tada charges in the 1993 serial blasts case, has been convicted under the Arms Act for illegal possession of arms. He has been convicted under Section 3, 7 of the Arms Act, which carry a minimum jail term of five years. In an effort to avoid imprisonment, Dutt has also filed an application seeking to be let out on probation. His counsel, VR Manohar will resume arguing the application on Tuesday.

Manohar had earlier argued that every accused was entitled to seek relief under the Probation of Offenders Act, 1958, which aims at reformation and rehabilitation, provided specified conditions were fulfiled. Dutt’s offence was not punishable with death or life imprisonment and neither was he a criminal or a habitual offender, he had stated.

Three others, Yusuf Nulwalla, Kersi Adajenia and Rusi Mulla, whose bail extensions also lapse on Tuesday, will also seek a further extension. The trio have been acquitted of Tada charges and convicted under the Arms Act for illegal possession of arms and helping dispose the weapons kept in Dutt’s house. They too have filed applications seeking benefit under the Probation Act.

Former additional customs collector Somnath Thapa, who suffers from lung cancer, will also seek and a bail extension on medical grounds to continue his chemotherapy.