Mumbai, Mar 12 (UNI) Hearing on all three pleas by as many groups of convicts on the fate of Bollywood actor-convict Sanjay Dutt in the 1993 serial bomb blasts in the country's financial and entertainment capital was adjourned till tomorrow by the TADA court here today.
Dutt was among the 100 people who have been convicted in the case of the multiple blasts which had claimed 257 lives and left over 700 people wounded in this metropolis this day 14 years ago. Of the 123 accused who faced trial, 23 were acquitted by the TADA court during one of the longest judicial trials in the world history.
The court took 84 days from September 12 to December 4, last year to pronounce convictions and acquittals in the case. However, the court has yet to announce sentence punishing the 100 convicts.
As arguments on the plea of 69 convicts, seeking parity with convict Sanjay Dutt remained inconclusive today, designated judge Pramod Kode deferred it till tomorrow.
Defence counsel Mustaq Ahmed argued that the case against 69 convicts does not fall under the Terrorists and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act and hence they should be treated at par with the actor.
Dutt was acquitted of the terror charge but was found guilty under the Arms Act and could face up to ten years of imprisonment.
The second plea by a group of 68 convicts, seeking the court's nod for retrial and direction to convict them under the Arms Act and the Indian Penal Code (IPC) like Sanjay Dutt was also adjourned till tomorrow by the court.
The third plea by an intervener, seeking dismissal of Dutt's plea for relief under the Probation of Offenders Act (POA), too, was deferred till tomorrow.
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Dutt was among the 100 people who have been convicted in the case of the multiple blasts which had claimed 257 lives and left over 700 people wounded in this metropolis this day 14 years ago. Of the 123 accused who faced trial, 23 were acquitted by the TADA court during one of the longest judicial trials in the world history.
The court took 84 days from September 12 to December 4, last year to pronounce convictions and acquittals in the case. However, the court has yet to announce sentence punishing the 100 convicts.
As arguments on the plea of 69 convicts, seeking parity with convict Sanjay Dutt remained inconclusive today, designated judge Pramod Kode deferred it till tomorrow.
Defence counsel Mustaq Ahmed argued that the case against 69 convicts does not fall under the Terrorists and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act and hence they should be treated at par with the actor.
Dutt was acquitted of the terror charge but was found guilty under the Arms Act and could face up to ten years of imprisonment.
The second plea by a group of 68 convicts, seeking the court's nod for retrial and direction to convict them under the Arms Act and the Indian Penal Code (IPC) like Sanjay Dutt was also adjourned till tomorrow by the court.
The third plea by an intervener, seeking dismissal of Dutt's plea for relief under the Probation of Offenders Act (POA), too, was deferred till tomorrow.
More UNI
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