Maharashtra Governor Chennamaneni Vidyasagar Rao has rejected former Supreme Court judge, Markandey Katju’s plea to waive off the remaining jail term of actor Sanjay Dutt (56), convicted in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case.
Along with Dutt, Katju had also sought pardon for Zaibunnisa Kazi, another convict in the 1993 blasts case.
Katju has also requested the President, under section 72 of the Constitution, to pardon the blast case convicts.
Katju had argued that Dutt — sentenced to five years in prison — was “not a terrorist” and had only erred.
I am not appealing that Sanjay Dutt should be pardoned because he is a celebrity. I am also appealing for pardon to Zaibunnasa Kazi, co-accused who is not a celebrity.
— Markandey Katju
According to a source, the State Home Department had recommended rejection of Dutt’s plea as his conviction in 2013 came from the Supreme court. Cutting his jail term short would, the source said, “would set a bad precedent”.
Earlier, the actor was jailed in 1996 and spent 18 months behind bars before walking out on bail. The 18 months of jail term was taken into account and he was to spend another 42 months.
He has completed 30 months in Central Jail in Pune, Maharashtra and is due to be released in February 2016.
Dutt had been out on parole twice and an equal number of times on furlough.
(With inputs from PTI)
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