Much to the relief of his family members, fans and the Bollywood industry, the Supreme Court on Tuesday granted bail to actor Sanjay Dutt. The Bollywood actor had been jailed for buying weapons from criminals involved in the 1993 Mumbai blasts. Sanjay, who was awarded a six-year jail sentence last July, has been lodged in Yerwada jail in Pune since October 23 last. 

Accepting Sanjay Dutt’s bail plea, the Supreme Court on Tuesday said that the severity of being convicted under the Arms Act are compassionate and since Dutt’s case falls in the periphery, his case is fit for bail.

Earlier in the day, the CBI also told the Supreme Court that it would not oppose to Dutt being granted bail. Nevertheless, Sanjay has been directed to surrender his passport. Now the Apex Court will hold the hearings in the Mumbai blasts case after six months that means Sanjay will be getting relief for another half year.

Sanjay had moved the Supreme Court following his conviction for illegally keeping arms – an AK-56 rifle and a pistol – relating to the 1993 Mumbai blasts case.

And his lawyer had argued that the Supreme Court should grant him bail on the ground of his conduct. Expressing satisfaction over the Supreme Court’s decision to grant bail to Sanjay Dutt, his lawyer said the actor would now like to reconstruct his life.

A TADA court hearing the 1993 Mumbai blast cases had convicted Sanjay Dutt on November 28 last year and sentenced him to six years of rigorous imprisonment on July 31 earlier this year.

Soon after, the Bollywood star was taken into custody and sent to Yearawada Jail in Pune. When the actor’s lawyers filed an appeal against the conviction and sought bail, the apex court granted him an interim bail on August 20 till he obtained the copy of the TADA court’s judgment. When the copy was handed to him on October 23 he surrendered before the TADA court and has been in jail since then.
 
Meanwhile, Sanjay will now have to furnish a bond subject to satisfaction of the TADA judge and his passport will remain deposited.