It has been almost 2 months since the TADA court had announced its verdict on Sanjay Dutt in connection with the Mumbai bomb blasts. “Sanjay Dutt is not a terrorist“, proclaimed the court. However, the sentence is yet to be announced. And the way in which Dutt has repeatedly managed to keep himself out on bail has already raised a few eyebrows, and sparked off protests from the relatives of others accused in the case.
Is it a case of a star getting special treatment from the judiciary? Is it a violation of “All men are equal in the eyes of law“? Or, more importantly, is Munna Bhai playing the role of saviour for Sanju Baba?
Well, personally, I loved Munna for his antics in Lage Raho… and its prequel. I have enjoyed Dutt’s acting in a couple of other films too. However, I am also a staunch supporter of “Equality in the eyes of law“. A filmstar, just because he has advocated Gandhigiri in his films, should not be let of the hook for a crime that he has confessed to have committed. And I say crime, because in spite of being a fan of Dutt’s acting, I find it extremely hard to believe that somebody in this country would require an Automatic Kalashnikov (AK-56) for self-protection!
Whether Sanjay Dutt, as a person, has changed for good, is debatable. His friends in the film-industry definitely feel so! In fact, it can well be a case of a spoilt brat of rich and famous parents committing a serious mistake, and then realizing the same after being made to pay for it (Let’s not forget, he has already served a jail-term for over a year.)! However, can we really be certain about that? Who knows, instead of being repentant, he may still be in touch with the underworld! One thing, though, that goes in Dutt’s favour, is the fact that, unlike Salman Khan, he has been able to keep himself out of any further controversies. He has not been found hunting endangered animals, neither has he been accused of drunken driving, nor has he publicly troubled estranged girlfriends!
The CBI wants maximum punishment for Dutt, a 10 year jail term. On the other hand, he is seeking the benefit of the Probation of the Offenders Act, which entitles the court to release, for his good character and conduct, a person who has been found guilty of an offence not punishable by death or life imprisonment. If the judge and the jury truly find Dutt to have been really co-operative throughout the course of this trial, and they honestly feel Sanjay Dutt can indeed be released for his good conduct, then they definitely should go ahead and do the same. However, the judiciary should ensure that such a decision is taken impartially. Without the influence of Jaadu ki Jhappi, or for that matter, any of Munna Bhai’s fictional philanthropic actions!
