...but Munna is keen on politics

Sanjay Dutt wants to enter the political bandwagon. He is keen to contest the next general elections from a Mumbai seat. Sources said the 48-year-old actor has already met Congress president Sonia Gandhi with his request, though it is not yet clear if he would like to replace his sister and sitting MP Priya Dutt as the party candidate from Mumbai North-West. Priya was tight-lipped on the issue. Her political manager said, “She is a very popular leader. It will be unfair to dismiss her in the 2009 elections.”

Top leaders from Mumbai Congress feel Dutt could be of great help to woo the minorities, several of whom are alienated by the government’s inaction in the 1992-93 Mumbai riots case. Even Samajwadi Party’s Amar Singh was reportedly keen to rope the actor in. He congratulated Dutt following the favourable court verdict.

The only question is whether Dutt, who has been convicted in the bomb blasts case, can contest elections. Special public prosecutor Ujwal Nikam said, “An accused can contest elections when the final decision is still pending in the appellate court.” A senior officer in the state legal department said, “It all depends on what the apex court has to say.” He, however, said, “There are instances of an accused fighting elections and becoming a member of parliament after challenging a conviction.”

A major factor in Dutt’s favour is that the courts have acquitted him of the serious charge of conspiracy in the blasts and instead convicted him for the lesser crime of possessing arms. Dutt has challenged his conviction in the Supreme Court.