1993 Mumbai blast case: Shiv Sena opposes move to pardon Sanjay Dutt

The Supreme Court,had on March 19,upheld his conviction under Arms Act for illegally possessing prohibited weapons including an AK-56 rifle and sentenced him to five years of imprisonment.

“Leaders from various political parties have demanded that he should be pardoned. But if leniency is shown to Dutt,it would amount to providing political cover to the convicts in this case,” she added.

Incidentally,the then Congress MP Sunil Dutt and father of Sanjay,had turned up to Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray to ensure that his actor son got some relief after he was arrested and jailed under the stringent Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act also known as TADA for possessing illegal weapons.

Various film personalities and politicians have stated that the Maharashtra government could make a request to the state governor to pardon Sanjay Dutt.

As per the provisions of the law,the governor has powers to pardon a convict or reduce his punishment.