New Delhi: Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt said on Thursday he was heartbroken that the Supreme Court upheld actor Sanjay Dutt's conviction in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case. Dutt's sentence was reduced from six to five years in jail.
Dutt, who has served 18 months in jail, will now have to spend another 3 years and 6 months in jail.
"I was hopeful there would be a happy ending but alas life is not a movie," Bhatt told CNN-IBN. He also tweeted: "Heart Broken: Just heard that Sanjay Dutt has to go to jail for 5 years. I expected mercy! Alas it did not happen".
Sanjay Dutt's counsel requested the court that the actor be released on probation considering his past conduct and association with charitable and social work. However, the court was unimpressed saying it cannot be done considering the gravity of the crime, thereby reducing his sentence from 6 to 5 years.
While Dutt can still file a review petition against the verdict within the next four weeks. If he doesn't appeal against his sentence in the given time period, he will have to surrender before the Bombay High Court and will be sent to jail to serve his sentence.
"We were hoping against hope that there would be light at the end of the tunnel, that it would be a happy ending. I do not know of the legal path forward now. While talking to Sanjay Dutt yesterday night I could sense that he was going through an anxious time," Bhatt said.
"It is a blow to us, all those close to Sanjay Dutt," he said.
Meanwhile, director Kunal Kohli said "justice has not been done."
"Question is, what about the real culprits behind the blasts? All of us shattered. It's a very sad day. But what about the real operators, the real people behind the blast," he said.
"It took 20 years for the Supreme Court to say that Pakistan and the ISI were behind it. Can we see real justice being served," Kohli said.
The Supreme Court said that the circumstances and nature of offence was so serious that Dutt cannot be released on probation. It said that the evidence and materials perused by TADA court in arriving at the decision against Dutt was correct.
Meanwhile, S Maneshinde, Dutt's counsel said the actor "is strong enough".
"We will have to see what the court has said after seeing the judgement. Have spoken to Sanjay Dutt. We accept the judgement as it is. Sanjay Dutt has said that he has accepted the judgement with humility. Another three and a half years are left, will see whatever happens as and when," he said.
Filmmaker Karan Johar tweeted: "I am truly shattered to hear of Sanju's sentence. The nicest guy I have known just doesnt deserve this. My heart goes out to him."
Actress-turned-politician Jaya Prada: "This is very unfortunate, Sanjay Dutt is innocent."####Tweets about ”#SanjayDutt AND Sanjay Dutt”
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