The Supreme Court today dismissed Bollywood film producer SHAKEEL NOORANI’S plea for cancellation of SANJAY DUTT’S bail in the 1993 Mumbai blast case. Noorani, who was involved in a financial dispute with the actor, alleged in his plea that the actor Sanjay Dutt was behind repeated threat calls made to him. He accused the actor as the mastermind behind these calls from Karachi through the underworld.

The apex court educated Noorani on this by declaring “You can’t use this court to solve your problems with the actor, in a criminal matter, how can a financier make a petition? You file an FIR.

Noorani had earlier sought the Bombay High Court’s direction to seal two properties belonging to Sanjay Dutt. The producer had filed the suit before the High court after the actor refused to fulfill his promise to complete a film launched by Noorani in 2001.

Dutt was granted bail in 2007 on his appeal challenging his conviction in the Mumbai serial blasts. A special TADA court in Mumbai had in November 2006 acquitted Dutt of TADA charges (Terrorist and disruptive activities prevention act 1987), but had held him guilty under the Arms Act for possessing a weapon illegally. He was sentenced to six years imprisonment.

SUPREME COURT REJECTS NOORANI’S PLEA

Report by Asha Mathew