Sanjay Dutt goes to jail; will have to quit smoking

Actor Sanjay Dutt, who surrendered today to complete the rest of his five-year jail term for possessing illegal weapons, has been allowed by the court to take his own bedding, copies of holy Hindu texts like the Hanuman Chalisa, the Ramayan, and the Bhagvad Gita, and his own toiletries and nightwear, mosquito repellent and an electric fan.

Dutt will, however, have to perforce quit smoking during the three and a half years that remain of his jail term (he had already served about a year and a half before he was granted bail).

The special court in Delhi did not allow him to take cigarettes, even of the electronic kind. Judge G A Sanap told Dutt when he appeared in the box a little after 4pm, "I am allowing you everything except cigarettes." He added with a smile, "Stop it (smoking)."

Dutt was asked how many days has he served in jail. He promptly replied, "551 days".

He has been given five years' rigorous imprisonment by the Supreme Court after he was convicted under the Arms Act for possessing an AK-56 automatic rifle, which is banned for civilians.

Earlier, Dutt surrendered along with four others - Kersi Adjania (82), Altaf Hussain (50), Yusuf Malwalla (63), and Essa Memon, brother of absconding Tiger Memon, prime accused in the 1992 serial blasts in Mumbai.

Judge Sanap allowed Memon, Adjania and Nulwala to take medicines in jail.

Two other convicts, Zebunisa Kazi and Sharif (Dada) Parkar, are likely to surrender on Friday.

Essa is suffering from a brain tumour for which he has refused to undergo an operation. A TADA (terrorist and disruptive activities) court had sentenced him to life imprisonment and the apex court had upheld the punishment.

Adjania, Kersi, held guilty of destroying Dutt's AK-56 rifle in his workshop in the aftermath of the blasts, was awarded one-year jail term. He has already spent over three months in jail.

Nulwala had picked up the AK-56 rifle from the house of Sanjay Dutt under instructions from the actor and given the weapon to Kersi for destruction. He was awarded a five-year term, of which he has already completed 18 months.

Altaf Shaikh was convicted for possessing hand grenades in notified area under the TADA Act. He was awarded five years' imprisonment.