Mumbai, Mar. 26 (ANI): Expelled Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Amar Singh and Lok Sabha MP Jaya Prada, who are expected to meet Maharashtra Governor K. Sankaranarayanan to seek pardon for Sanjay Dutt in an arms case related to the 1993 Mumbai blasts, met the Bollywood actor at his residence here on Tuesday evening.
The actor-turned-politician, Jaya Prada, earlier on Thursday said she is heart broken at the news of Sanjay Dutt's jail term pronounced by the Supreme Court, and called him an innocent person who had been caught wrongly.
"He is innocent person. It is very unfortunate. Knowingly or unknowingly, it has been written in his fate that he has to struggle like this. Particularly for Sanjay Dutt, if you see the background of his family and all. His father Sunil Dutt served a lot for the country, and even in politics he had very good name. And knowing his nature and character as great father, and his son, he also innocently may be has done something," Jaya Prada said.
"I bow to the court's decision, but Sanjay Dutt is very close to my heart. We worked together in so many films. Today, is a very sad day for me," she added.
Several Bollywood stars and celebrities, including Press Council chief Justice Markandey Katju, have sought pardon for Dutt.
Justice Katju, who has requested the Maharashtra Governor to pardon Dutt in an arms case related to the 1993 Mumbai blasts, earlier on Friday said he was lending his support to the Bollywood actor only on humanitarian grounds.
"This is a humanitarian reason. I have supported many people on humanitarian reasons. For example Pakistani Doctor Khalil Chishti. You may remember (that) I supported him. He was not my relative. I did not even know him. He was not in my relation, my friend. But I felt that on humanitarian grounds I should support him. Similarly, in many cases I support people on humanitarian grounds," Justice Katju said.
"I have written a letter to the Governor of Maharashtra through the Chief Minister of Maharashtra because the Governor acts on the advice of the Chief Minister not on his own discretion," he added.
Justice Katju said that in his letter he has given the reasons as to why Dutt should be pardoned in this case.
"He has already undergone 18 months imprisonment. Then this incident of 1993 and in these 20 years Sanjay Dutt has faced many hardships. He could not get bank loans, he could not go abroad for shooting without permission of the court, various hardships he has faced. And also that he has spread the message of Gandhiji in his film "Munna Bhai". His parents used to do good social work. So, these are various considerations," said Justice Katju, while emphasizing on the content of his letter written to the Maharashtra Governor.
"And he was not found to be a terrorist. Other accused have been found to be implicated in that Bombay blast of 1993, but he has not (been) implicated in that. So, he is not a terrorist. The only offence for which he has been convicted is that he was having in his possession a prohibited weapon without a license," he added.
Justice Katju, who sought pardon for Dutt under Article 161 of the Constitution, in his letter said the actor had not been found guilty of playing a role in the 1993 blasts and had suffered a lot.
He said the Supreme Court found that Sanjay Dutt had in his possession a prohibited weapon without a licence and awarded him the minimum imprisonment prescribed under law.
Justice Katju said the power of pardon under Article 161 of the Constitution is different from judicial power as the Governor or the President can grant pardon or reduce the sentence of the court even if a minimum punishment is prescribed.
"There is no doubt that the Governor can grant pardon or reduce the sentence. In the case of Commander Nanavati, who was held guilty of murder, the Governor gave him pardon although the minimum sentence for murder is life term," he said in a statement.
Justice Katju said "surely, this is a lesser offence than murder. When the Governor of Maharashtra granted pardon to Nanavati, surely he can grant pardon to Sanjay Dutt".
He said that although Dutt had committed an offence, there are extenuating circumstances, such as that the event happened 20 years ago.
"During this period, Sanjay suffered a lot and had a cloud hovering over his head throughout. He had to undergo various tribulations and indignities during this period. He had to go to court often, he had to take the permission of the court for foreign shootings, he could not get bank loans, etc," Justice Katju said.
The Press Council chief said Dutt had already spent 18 months in jail, had married and has two children.
"He has not been held to be a terrorist and had no hand in the bomb blasts. His parents Sunil Dutt and Nargis worked for the good of society and the nation. Sunil Dutt and Nargis often went to border areas to give moral support to our brave jawans and did other social work for the society," he said.
Justice Katju added that Dutt, in the period of 20 years since the blasts, has through his films revived the memory of Mahatma Gandhi and his message, an apparent reference to "Gandhigiri" in the film Lage Raho Munna Bhai.
"In these circumstances, I respectfully appeal to your Excellency to pardon Sanjay Dutt and set him free," he said in his letter.
The Supreme Court, which last week upheld the death sentence of Yakub Abdul Razak Memon, a key conspirator with Dawood Ibrahim in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts, ordered that Dutt return to jail to serve three-and-a-half years sentence for possessing illegal arms.
Dutt, who is out on bail, will also have to surrender within four weeks to serve a jail term of 42 months as the apex court reduced to five years the six year jail term awarded to him by a designated TADA court in 2007 and he had already spent 18 months behind the bar.
A total of 257 persons were killed and 713 others injured when a series 13 coordinated explosions shattered the metropolis on March 12, 1993.
The blasts occurred at 12 places, including Bombay Stock Exchange building, Air-India Building at Nariman Point, at Worli opposite Century Bazaar, Hotels Sea Rock and Juhu Centaur. (ANI)
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