Sanjay Dutt appeals in SC against conviction

Actor-turned-politician Sanjay Dutt, on Thursday moved to the Supreme Court seeking a stay on his conviction under the Arms Act in connection with the 1993 Mumbai blasts case to be eligible to contest election.

Samajwadi Party has confirmed Sanjay Dutt’s candidature in the forthcoming general elections, and hence he needs a stay from the apex court. The petition was filed on Thursday morning and will be mentioned in the apex court on Friday for early hearing.

As per the electoral law, Representation of the People Act, anybody who has been sentenced for more than two years’ imprisonment can’t contest any election till a court of law stays the conviction and sentence.

Earlier, defence counsel V R Manohar, who represented the actor in 1993 Mumbai bomb blast case had said that Dutt cannot contest election and his nomination can be rejected unless the Supreme Court stays the conviction and suspends the sentence.

On July 31, 2007, the 50-year old actor was convicted and sentenced for six years imprisonment despite been cleared from the ‘terror conspiracy charges’ under TADA. He was, however, granted bail by the Supreme Court. So his conviction stands.

Sanjay Dutt was charged with illegal possession of three AK-56 rifles. In the 12-year-long trial, he had already spent 18 months in jail. He is also now of the United Nations' Goodwill Ambassador on malnutrition. Earlier last month, the apex court granted him permission to extend his foreign visit by two weeks for the special purpose.

After his conviction, the Court had asked him to surrender his passport debarring his foreign visit. He, however, was allowed to tour some countries for the official UN programme.