Maha Congress against mixing apex court order, electoral prospects

SC verdict sentences Sanjay Dutt to five year sentence in 1993 blasts case

Ruling and opposition parties in Maharashtra, who had deplored the 1993 serial blasts, were unanimous in their view that the Supreme Court needs to be honoured by one and all. They were speaking after the apex court ordered five year sentence to film star Sanjay Dutt for illegal possession of weapons in a case linked to the 1993 serial blasts in Mumbai.

The ruling Congress party however, said the Supreme Court order and the electoral prospects of Sanjay Dutt's sister and the present party MP Priya Dutt should not be mixed. Both are different issues. Instead, the party said the Supreme Court is above political parties and its judgement needs to be honoured.
 
The apex court also upheld Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt's conviction under the Arms Act but reduced his sentence from six years to five years. Dutt has already undergone 18 months of imprisonment and will now be in jail for 3.5 years.

Immediately after the apex court's verdict the ruling Congress party legislators in the state legislature were seen discussing it in a choked voice. They were reluctant to provide any official comment.
 
However, Sachin Sawant, spokesman, Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee told Business Standard "The Supreme Court has delivered its judgement and everybody will have to accept it." He said it would not be proper to bring any political angle to it.
 
Moreover, ruling Congress party's co-partner Nationalist Congress Party spokesman Nawab Malik said the Supreme Court judgement will have to be honoured by all.
 
Sudhir Mungantiwar, president, Maharashtra unit of Bharatiya Janata Party said today's verdict has again proved that nobody is above law be that politician or celebrity. "The apex court order also shows that the law has taken its due course. However, the time taken for deciding such a crucial case needs to be shortened," he added.
 
After the jdugement, Sanjay's sister Priya Dutt, who is also an MP from Mumbai, broke down. "I don't want to speak.  I don't know what to say," a visibly upset Ms Dutt said when asked about her reaction to the court's order, she said.