Actor Sanjay Dutt sent to 6 years in jail

TADA special judge P D Kode on 2nd August sentenced the Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt to six years of rigorous imprisonment under the Arms Act for illegal possession of weapons that were given to him by associates of gangster Dawood Ibrahim ahead of the 1993 serial blasts.

I honestly do believe this was a fair and balanced judgment.
Sanjay's well-wishers may lament and mull, but the law - Sec 7 of the Arms Act - requires that the accused be sentenced between 5 and 10 years.Judge Kode had no option there. Five years was the minimum. A year extra came in for involving so many others.

I believe Sanjay is not a terrorist and was not involved in the blasts. However, - as much as I hate to say it - legally Sanjay is now a "criminal". Law has to take its course and just because Sanjay is a big celebrity, ideally , it shouldn’t make a difference to his case.

A few facts about the Dutt Junior :
-> It began with his addition to drugs. It came to such a pass, that he had to be sent to the US for rehabilitation.

-> Early 90s: Feroze Khan, director of Sanjay's Yalgar, introduced him to underworld don Dawood Ibrahim in Dubai. Not only that, he attended an underworld party. And whom did he have as company? Chhota Rajan, Iqbal Mirchi and Sharad Shetty. All infamous names in the world of crime.

-> 1992: He bought a 9 mm pistol from one Quayyum for Rs 40,000. Why? Sanjay fancied guns.

-> 1993: Abu Salem delivered him hand grenades, several AK-56 rifles and cartridges. He only kept one AK-56 to protect his family from threats they had received.

-> Mid 90s: Out on bail, he chatted up with don Chhota Shakeel on his cell phone. His conversation was recorded, though not accepted as evidence in court.

In 1993, Sanjay was a 34-year-old grown-up man. If at such an age, Sanjay thought he could still play around with guns and get away with it, then there was something seriously questionable with the man's thinking ability. Keeping an AK-47 rifle for self defense doesn’t really make a sensible excuse.
But also, Sanjay may not be a bad boy anymore. I believe, he is in fact one of the most humble, harmless and genuine persons : He is naive, immature, misguided and stupid. A child-man: child in the heart and mind.

Disappointed as I am for my favorite celebrity, I am happy that law has taken its course without any bias for the rich and famous. It has proved once again that law is same for all.
But the fact that Dutt has spent 16months in jail already, repented enough and maintained a good conduct in society through out the trial and not to be forgotten,the actors collegues and thousands of fans who support him so strongly...I wish law considers that and relieve him such harsh punishment of 6 years of rigorous imprisonment.