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Sanjay Dutt surrenders before TADA court, goes to jail
Shiv Kumar
Tribune News Service

Mumbai, May 16
Actor Sanjay Dutt, convicted for illegally possessing banned weapons, today surrendered before the special TADA court to serve out the remainder of his jail term even as hundreds of his fans bid him a tearful farewell. This afternoon Dutt, sporting a white kurta over a pair of jeans and a red tikka on his forehead stepped out of his house after an elaborate puja holding wife Manyata's hands. The actor had to push his way through crowds reaching out to touch him and television crews recording his every move before entering his car.

Dutt's first stop was the Siddhivinayak temple where he prayed for a short while before proceeding to surrender before the TADA court.

Apart from several of his friends who accompanied his car, a large number of fans followed in their vehicles. At the Arthur Road Jail a large number of his supporters had gathered, Dutt's entry into the court room was slowed by nearly half an hour.

The actor entered the court room accompanied by a little before 3 pm looking stressed out. Then the judge asked his name to which the actor replied “Sanjay Sunil Dutt”.

He later told the court that he had spent 551 days in jail. An appeal made by the actor to have home-made food delivered to him was agreed to by Special Judge G A Sanap of the TADA court. In addition, he would be allowed a thin mattress and a pillow apart from

his medicines for one month. A decision on whether to continue with these facilities would be taken after one month.

However a plea by Dutt that he be allowed to smoke electronic cigarettes in prison was rejected by the court. According to sources here, Dutt was taken into custody and after completion of paper work would in all probability be shifted to Pune's Yerwada jail. The Arthur Road Central Jail in Mumbai is mainly for those undergoing trial and convicts are sent elsewhere to serve their jail terms.

The actor's lawyer Rizwan Merchant told the TADA court that they were planning to file a curative petition before the Supreme Court soon. The actor had earlier been incarcerated at the Yerwada jail in connection with the same case where he had taken up carpentry.

Prior to his surrender today, Sanjay Dutt spent the past few days with his family. According to his friends who visited him, the actor was surrounded by his wife, twin sons and daughter Trishala from his earlier marriage. The actor's sisters were also with him. Among those who dropped in to visit Dutt included Salman Khan, Abhishek and Aishwarya Bachchan, Ajay Devgn and several film producers and directors.

To file a curative petition

The actor's lawyer told the TADA court that they were planning to file a curative petition before the Supreme Court soon.

Allowed home-made food

An appeal made by the actor to have home-made food delivered to him was agreed to by Special Judge.

He will be allowed a mattress and a pillow apart from his medicines for one month.

However, a plea by Dutt that he be allowed to smoke electronic cigarettes in prison was rejected by the court.