Sanjay Dutt debarred

SC bars Sanjay Dutt from contesting LS polls

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has rejected Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt's plea to contest this year's Lok Sabha polls. Dutt was to be the Samajwadi Party candidate from Lucknow.

Supreme Court refused to stay his conviction in connection with the 1993 Mumbai blasts case. Dutt was convicted under the Arms Act and sentenced to six years in jail by a TADA court. He is out on bail at present.

"We are not inclined to suspend his conviction," a Bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan said, according to PTI.

"It is not a fit case to grant stay of conviction," the Bench also comprising Justices P Sathasivam and R M Lodha said.

The court said that Dutt was convicted for "serious offence" and that the actor's case could not be equated with that of BJP leader Navjot Singh Sidhu whose conviction and sentence in a road rage case was stayed by the apex court to enable him to contest the Amritsar by-elections in 2007.

The Bench said that Dutt was disqualified from contesting the elections under the Section 8 (3) of the Representation of People Act, which debars a person sentenced to two or more years of imprisonment, from standing for polls.

The judges said that the power of the court to suspend the conviction of a person to enable him to contest the elections has to be exercised rarely.

The apex court had on Monday reserved its order after hearing the contentions of the actor and the CBI which is opposing the actor's plea.

I would like to thank Justices P Sathasivam and R M Lodha for having taken a very correct decision.
I am also sure the people of India appreciate it.
Personally I have nothing against Sanjay.
I admired his parents, Nargis and Sunil Dutt.
I enjoyed his two movies on Munnabhai.
But having got into wrong company and having committed a crime he should do penance.
He should not be seen in the company of people like Mulayum Singh who is infamous for supporting criminals in their political ambition.
After completing his sentence and if he is still interested he should stand as an Independent candidate..
For too long have our corrupt politicians taken the people forgranted and ran roughshod over all norms of decency.
I would now like our election commission also to take necessary action so that forms of the politicians are rejected outright.
In the final step I would ask the people to vote for only honest people.
The party has no difference at present.
The policy of all parties are the same.
Encourage corruption.
SO CHOSE ONLY HONEST POLITICIANS.
Of course, I know very few of our politicians are honest.
Well, chose the least dishonest crook


Radheshyam