INDIA BUSINESS WORLD - AUGUST (16th - 31st) 2007
The Month that was ...
SANJAY DUTT, FIVE OTHERS GET INTERIM BAIL FROM APEX COURT
Technicalities of our legal system turned into favour of Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt who was granted interim bail by the Supreme Court. Dutt was sent to jail for six years following his conviction in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case on July 31.
Dutt may remain out on bail till he receives the copy of the Tada court judgment, which according to agency reports is likely to be served after August 27. The apex court also told the actor that the bail was for an interim period and he will have to surrender and apply for regular bail once he gets the Tada court document. During this period, he will also need to appear before the nearest police station once in a week.
Others, who were granted interim bail are film producer Sameer Hingora, Yosuf Mohsin Nulwalla, Aziz Ahmed Mohammad Ahmed Sheikh, Ibrahim Musa Chauhan alias Baba Chauhan and a woman convict Zaibunnisa Anwar Kazi.
The bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan, Justice C K Thakker and Justice R V Raveendran, which gave the bail order said Dutt's passport will remain with the trial court and he will require permission of the court to leave the country. "We are granting bail but the moment judgement copy is given to them they have to surrender," the Bench said.
Our bureau reports from Mumbai and Pune said the court decision was greeted with jubiliation by the film industry and fans of the 48-yearold star across the country. Large numbers of Dutt's supporters appeared outside Yarwada jail in Pune with garlands and flowers soon after the order was made public in TV news channels.
The court took into consideration the fact that he was on bail since October 16, 1995 till July 31, 2007 the day, he was sentenced to six-year jail term. "We can't consider bail at this stage without the copy of judgement but those who were on bail at the time of sentencing will remain on bail and those who were in custody will remain in custody," the court observed.
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