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Sanjay Dutt denies role in Mumbai blast
Sanjay Dutt, film star and accused in 1993 bomb blast case, on Tuesday denied his involvement in the conspiracy and refuted the CBI charge that he possessed an AK-56 rifle and destroyed it.
Sanjay Dutt, film star and accused in 1993 bomb blast case, on Tuesday denied his involvement in the conspiracy and refuted the CBI charge that he possessed an AK-56 rifle and destroyed it.
The actor appeared before designated TADA judge P D Kode to give his point of view on the evidence tendered by CBI. His lawyers Rajendra Singh, Satish Maneshinde and Farhana Shah submitted arguments on behalf of the actor.
Dutt denied that film producer Samir Hingora and Ibrahim Moosa Chavan had visited his residence in a car laden with arms and ammunition prior to the 1993 explosions. Dutt's lawyers said the confession of police constable Pandharinath Shinde in this regard was incorrect.
The CBI has alleged that Dutt accepted an AK-56 rifle from the accused and asked them to take away other weapons. When Samir Hingora and his associate Hanif Kadawala were held after the blasts they told the police about the rifle kept by Dutt. The actor was away to Mauritius for a film shoot and instructed his friends on telephone to destroy the weapon from his house.
Dutt denied that he had voluntarily confessed before police about accepting AK-56 rifle, 9 mm pistol and bullets from the accused. On statement of confession recorded by police, Sanjay's lawyers argued that the actor had not made any voluntary disclosure about his involvement in the crime before Inspector Valli Shetty or DCP Vishnu Bishnoi or anyone else.
The defence lawyers said Sanjay had seen third degree methods adopted by police on other accused in custody. He was terribly frightened because the policemen were openly talking about encounters and gunning down gangsters.
Sanjay's lawyers cited portions from cross-examination of DCP Bishnoi to show that his statement of confession was not voluntary. As regards a spring and a rod produced by CBI to prove allegations that Sanjay had destroyed AK-56 rifle with help of his friend in a foundry, defence lawyers said these articles by themselves could not prove that they were part of the rifle.
Dutt also disagreed with CBI's version that he had seen his friend Yusuf Nullwalla in crime branch office when he was arrested. The actor also denied that he had told Nullwalla to tell the police about the weapons and ammunition.
The actor also denied that Nullwalla had taken him and policemen to his friend Kersi to whom he had handed over the rifle and pistol. He denied knowledge about Kersi producing a spring and rod from his house and handing them over to police. Dutt said he was not aware about Kersi's statement that he had handed over the pistol and bullets to his friend Russi Mulla.
Bureau Report
Dutt denied that film producer Samir Hingora and Ibrahim Moosa Chavan had visited his residence in a car laden with arms and ammunition prior to the 1993 explosions. Dutt's lawyers said the confession of police constable Pandharinath Shinde in this regard was incorrect.
The CBI has alleged that Dutt accepted an AK-56 rifle from the accused and asked them to take away other weapons. When Samir Hingora and his associate Hanif Kadawala were held after the blasts they told the police about the rifle kept by Dutt. The actor was away to Mauritius for a film shoot and instructed his friends on telephone to destroy the weapon from his house.
Dutt denied that he had voluntarily confessed before police about accepting AK-56 rifle, 9 mm pistol and bullets from the accused. On statement of confession recorded by police, Sanjay's lawyers argued that the actor had not made any voluntary disclosure about his involvement in the crime before Inspector Valli Shetty or DCP Vishnu Bishnoi or anyone else.
The defence lawyers said Sanjay had seen third degree methods adopted by police on other accused in custody. He was terribly frightened because the policemen were openly talking about encounters and gunning down gangsters.
Sanjay's lawyers cited portions from cross-examination of DCP Bishnoi to show that his statement of confession was not voluntary. As regards a spring and a rod produced by CBI to prove allegations that Sanjay had destroyed AK-56 rifle with help of his friend in a foundry, defence lawyers said these articles by themselves could not prove that they were part of the rifle.
Dutt also disagreed with CBI's version that he had seen his friend Yusuf Nullwalla in crime branch office when he was arrested. The actor also denied that he had told Nullwalla to tell the police about the weapons and ammunition.
The actor also denied that Nullwalla had taken him and policemen to his friend Kersi to whom he had handed over the rifle and pistol. He denied knowledge about Kersi producing a spring and rod from his house and handing them over to police. Dutt said he was not aware about Kersi's statement that he had handed over the pistol and bullets to his friend Russi Mulla.
Bureau Report