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'Sanjay Dutt to appeal against verdict' Mumbai,
July. 31: Actor Sanjay Dutt will appeal against the TADA court judge
sentencing him to six years' rigorous imprisonment in the 1993
Mumbai serial blasts case, his lawyer said today.
Dutt's counsel Satish Maneshinde told reporters after he was taken
to the Arthur Road jail that "We have taken the judgement (of the
TADA court) with a heavy heart. We will appeal against the order in
the Supreme Court."
He said the actor was prepared for the judgement --either probation
or a jail term between five and 10 years. "He was not not shocked
and he has accepted it with heavy heart."
He said Dutt has sought facilities for him in the jail to which he
is entitled and have got them. "We have not not sought home food,"
he added.
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 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 court," he
added.
Controversy has always dogged Sanjay Dutt. Years ago, I met
Sanjay Dutt briefly, when he made an appearance for Shatrughan
Sinha's 'Shotgun Show'. Shatrughan Sinha was his usual affable self,
preparing to ask tough questions to Sanjay Dutt.
As we waited for Sanjay to arrive, the live audience was restless. A
star, they fumed, would not arrive on time. But Sanjay Dutt arrived
(in time) and though not thrilled to be introduced to a journo, was
deferential to Shatrughan Sinha, in the studio's green room. As
someone told me then, “Sanju baba would always be on time for
Shatrughan Sinha. It's a family thing...” What I still remember of
Sanjay Dutt is the almost awkward greeting and an open uneasiness
with someone likely to try and get a look in at his life.
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