Sanjay Dutt surrenders before TADA court

Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt on Thursday surrendered before the designated TADA court to serve his three-and-a-half year sentence in the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blast case.

Accompanied by his wife Manyata and film maker Mahesh Bhatt, the actor arrived at the court sporting a red 'tilak' on his forehead. As soon as Dutt appeared before the court, formalities began for his surrender.

The court commenced the process for the identification of Dutt, whose conviction was upheld by the Supreme Court recently. Sporting a white kurta and jeans, Dutt waved to the crowd before getting into his car outside Imperial Heights building at Pali Hill in suburban Bandra. As soon as Dutt's vehicle arrived near the court, it was surrounded by people, including press photographers.

Bhatt first emerged out of the car and with folded hands requested the media personnel to move away so that Dutt was able to reach the court. After much persuasion, the way was cleared for Dutt to reach the court. Several fans of Dutt waited patiently outside the court for the actor to arrive.

Police had maintained strong bandobast in the court premises as well as at the actor's residence in Bandra in the wake of threat to Dutt's life. While Dutt had told TADA court earlier that he faced threat to his life from fundamental groups, Arthur Road Central Jail authorities received an anonymous letter few days back saying Dutt would be harmed if he was lodged there.

The Supreme Court in its March 21 verdict awarded five years' imprisonment to the 53-year-old actor for illegal possession of arms. The apex court on May 14 refused to grant him more time to surrender. On May 10, the Supreme Court had dismissed Dutt's plea seeking review of its judgement on his conviction and the five-year jail term.