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Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt's friends and colleagues once again
rallied around him Monday as news came in that the Supreme Court
had given him interim bail. But though a relief, the final outcome
of his regular bail application was still being nervously
awaited.
"This is no relief and there is no reason to be happy. We are
all still anxious about the outcome of Sanju's regular bail
application," said director Mahesh Bhatt.
"Its only an interim relief. So we are all praying for him," Bhatt
told IANS over the phone from Dubai.
Added producer Ravi Chopra: "It's fantastic news even though it's
an interim bail. Sanju has already suffered a lot and has learnt
his lessons he had to.
"Now we hope the court takes a more lenient view on his regular
bail application," Chopra said.
According to Bollywood trade sources, the "Munnabhai" actor has
over Rs.500 million riding on him and his bail should enable him to
finish his under production films.
Dutt, 48, who was sentenced on July 31 for illegal possession of
weapons during the 1993 Mumbai serial bombings, is serving a
six-year prison term at Pune's Yerawada jail.
"We are waiting for the interim bail order. Sanjay can be released
depending on when we get a copy of the Supreme Court's order,"
said a member of Dutt's legal team.
"We are awaiting the apex court's bail order. Once that come
through, Sanjay Dutt is free to walk out of jail," said a senior
jail official Monday.
Sources here said that the actor gets at least seven days of
freedom as the TADA court is expected to give a copy of its
judgment by Aug 27
"After getting a copy of the TADA court's judgment, Dutt will have
to surrender to the police," sources at the TADA court said.
"Once on bail he will have to appear once a week before a police
station and is banned from leaving the country without the TADA
court's permission. The actor's passport will, however, remain
with the TADA court."
A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan said
it was releasing Dutt and others while restoring "status quo ante
sentencing".
The apex court also granted interim bail to five other blast
convicts -- Sameer Hingora, Aziz Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed Sheikh,
Ibriam Musa Chauhan alias Baba Chauhan, Yusuf Mohsin Nullwala and
Zaibunisa Anwar Kazi.
Indo-Asian News Service
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