SC ticks off CBI for opposing Dutt's plea

Said the agency opted not to challenge Dutt's acquittal under anti- terror law TADA in the 1993 blasts case

The CBI today faced embarrassment in the Supreme Court which said the agency that opted not to challenge Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt's acquittal under anti- terror law TADA in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case was opposing his plea seeking more time for surrender.

"We are saying it in a lighter vein, you have not challenged his (Dutt's) acquittal under TADA when you filed many appeals in other cases. Who prevented you from filing appeal. In many appeals filed by the CBI, we enhanced the sentence," a bench of justices P Sathasivam and B S Chauhan said when the agency pleaded that court should not grant any relief to the actor.

Additional Solicitor General Haren Rawal submitted that no extension of time should be given to Dutt on the ground of "commercial interest" to complete his unfinished films.

He said that any extension given to Dutt would open a floodgate as similar appeals would be made by other convicts also.

The bench, however, was not satisfied with his contention and said that if similar plea is made by the other convicts then it would decide such petitions on case to case basis.

"The prosecuting agency had itself not taken interest in the case," the bench said.