SC grants bail to Sanjay Dutt, 5 others

Munnabhai is all set to return — to freedom, family and the film fraternity, albeit for a little while. The Supreme Court on Monday granted interim bail to six convicts including the Bollywood actor, who is currently serving a six-year sentence at Yerwada Jail near Pune.

The interim relief, however, may be short-lived as the court said the convicts would have to surrender as soon as the TADA court in Mumbai gives them copies of the July 31 judgment.

A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan said, “Those who were on bail during the trial shall continue to be on bail if they are before us for relief.” The convicts won’t be allowed to leave the country without the trial court’s permission and will have to report to the CBI Special Task Force in Mumbai once a week.

However, the apex court said that after getting the copies of the judgment and surrendering before the TADA Court, the convicts would be able to approach it for regular bail.

During the arguments the CBI hinted at going soft on those who were convicted for just possessing arms but not being part of the larger conspiracy. It said such convicts could be considered for bail — a good omen for Dutt.