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Wednesday, Nov 29, 2006
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From anxiety to relief — a range of emotions sweeps Sanjay Dutt

"He looked like a nervous child waiting for his exam results"

— PHOTO: PTI

SIGH OF RELIEF: Member of Parliament Priya Dutt and Sanjay Dutt's lawyer Satish Mane Shinde (second from left) address the media outside the actor's residence in Bandra, Mumbai, on Tuesday.

Mumbai: ``He was naive, stupid and foolish but not evil'' was the refrain after the special TADA court acquitted film star Sanjay Dutt of serious offences under the TADA Act but pronounced him guilty under the Arms Act.

But before the verdict was announced, Mr. Dutt looked very nervous quite akin to what he had said in an interview earlier this week, ``I am a human being, and am quite nervous.''

Dressed in a red-check shirt — a departure from his usual blue shirt that he wore every time he appeared before the court — he was seated in the last row of the court with folded hands.

After the TADA court judge P.K. Kode entered the room, everyone stood up, including Mr. Dutt, who kept looking at the floor.

``He looked like a nervous child waiting for his exam results'' said an attendant in the court.

After former Customs Officer Somnath Thapa was pronounced guilty, Mr. Dutt looked more nervous than ever.

When Mr. Justice Kode announced Mr. Dutt's name, sighs and whispers were heard in the courtroom.

Timidly walking up to the witness box, he stood there, head bowed, and avoiding eye-contact with the judge.

He shook as he listened to the charges read out to him. When Mr. Justice Kode announced, ``Sanjay Dutt is not a terrorist,'' there were sighs of relief from his `well-wishers.'

He stood in the box numb as he was pronounced guilty of illegally possessing arms under Section 3 and Section 7 of the Arms Act.

He told the court that he was the only guardian of his daughter, presently studying in the U.S. ``My daughter studies in New York. I need some time for arranging her education. There is no one to look after her,'' he said. Mr. Justice Kode asked him to `wait' and said his plea would be heard later, after the completion of the verdict.

``I will give you a chance to clarify later, but not now,'' he said.

Mr. Dutt then silently came out of the box and sat down in the back row. But he was visibly relieved.

His greatest concern was on charges relating to conspiracy in the Mumbai serial blasts, of which he was acquitted.

After the judgment, Mr. Dutt's lawyer moved a bail plea citing his ``desire to complete his pending movies, getting time to provide arrangements for his daughter and settling his late father Sanjay Dutt's will.''

Mr. Justice Kode granted him bail till December 19. — ANI

"Lord Ganesha has blessed him"

Attributing the acquittal of actor Sanjay Dutt from the terrorism charge to Lord Ganesha's blessings on his devotee, singing legend Asha Bhonsle said she was happy that he no longer had to face the humiliation of being dubbed a terrorist.

``Today's verdict has shown that Lord Ganesha has blessed Sanjay, his devotee,'' the singer said.

On the eve of the TADA verdict, Mr. Dutt had, like on so many occasions in the past, visited the famous Siddhivinayak temple in central Mumbai to offer prayers to Lord Ganesha.

``No artist is a terrorist. I am very delighted that he has been absolved of the terrorism charge,'' Ms. Bhonsle told PTI here, while speaking about Mr. Dutt, who recently sang along with her in her latest musical video `Asha and Friends.'

``For a child of such illustrious parents, life has brought a lot of misery in his way,'' she said. ``He lost his wife due to cancer and later faced the humiliation of being dubbed as a terrorist. I feel sorry for him,'' she added.

``One learns from mistakes in life. I am sure this experience would teach him a lot and he would be able to take charge of his life for the better,'' she said.

"My prayers are with him"

Soon after the verdict, his friends and co-stars attending the International Film Festival of India in Panaji had prayers for the actor.

``It is very sad news. I worked with him and I know him to be a nice man. He has bounced back from a lot of lows in his life, including (his father) Sunil Duttsaab's death. I can only say that my prayers are with him,'' said actress Nandita Das, who worked with Mr. Dutt in Mahesh Manjrekar's ``Pitaah.''

She, however, appealed to the media not to sensationalise the news, saying: ``I know the media will have a field day with this news. But let us not be voyeuristic about this. He is going through a hard time. Justice should be done, irrespective of whether he is a big star or not... " — PTI

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