Drama, emotions outside TADA court as Sanjay Dutt surrenders

Emotional scenes and high drama today marked the surrender of actor Sanjay Dutt before a special TADA court here for completing remaining 42-month sentence in the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts case.

Clad in crisp white kurta and blue jeans, 53-year-old Dutt was accompanied by his wife Manyata, sister Priya Dutt, brother-in-law Owen Roncon and director Mahesh Bhatt. All of them, except Bhatt, went to the court along with Dutt.

The actor's vehicle, which pulled into the narrow lane of the city civil and sessions court in south Mumbai at around 2.30 pm, was surrounded by his supporters, reporters and camerapersons.

Dutt's fans in the crowd shouted slogans supporting the actor even as mediapersons jostled to capture the actor's photo.

Director Mahesh Bhatt first emerged out of the car and with folded hands requested the media persons to move away so that Dutt could reach the court. After much persuasion, the way was cleared for Dutt.

Once in court, Dutt was led by his lawyer Rizwan Merchant, who told special Judge G A Sanap that the actor was roughed up and pushed by several persons downstairs.

Dutt was sporting a red 'tilak' and religious threads around his neck and looked shaken.

After the actor bowed down before the judge he was asked to seat himself in the dock. Manyata, Priya and Owen followed the actor and sat with him on the bench.

As the court began the surrender proceedings, Manyata and Dutt held hands and were seen consoling each other.

Merchant argued that the actor should be allowed basic facilities in jail. "We are not asking for any luxury items. He just wants basic amenities like a thin mattress, a fan, medicines for arterial stenosis and high cholesterol and permission to move around the jail," the lawyer said.

Merchant said Dutt was a chain-smoker and sought leave to use electronic cigarette for de-addiction. "The electronic cigarette is also a medicine."

However, the court did not allow that and instead advised Dutt to quit smoking.