Sanjay Dutt gets five years jail in 1993 Mumbai blasts case

New Delhi, Mar. 21 : The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt to serve a five-year jail sentence in connection with the 1993 Mumbai blasts case.

The apex court said it agreed with the TADA court's decision to acquit him from terror charges, but offences under Arms Act were clearly made out for possessing and later destroying weapons of a prohibited calibre.

Dutt, who has already served nearly 18 months in jail, will now have to go to jail and serve the remaining part of his sentence.

The apex court has given Dutt a month to surrender.

Earlier, Dutt, the son of late actor and Congress politician Sunil Dutt, was sentenced to a jail term of six years for illegal possession of firearms acquired from terrorist acquaintances, who were responsible for the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts on July 31, 2007.

He was granted bail by the apex court on November 27, 2007.

The apex court also upheld the death sentence of blast mastermind Yakub Memon, prime accused Tiger Memon's brother.

The apex court in its ruling reportedly said there is no doubt that Memon played a huge role in the 1993 serial blasts.

The Supreme Court also reduced the death sentence of 10 other accused to life imprisonment considering the fact that they have spent 20 years in jail. It also upheld life sentences awarded to 17 others.

A total of 257 persons were killed and 713 others injured when a series 13 coordinated explosions shattered the metropolis on March 12, 1993.

The blasts occurred at 12 places including Bombay Stock Exchange building, Air-India Building at Nariman Point, at Worli opposite Century Bazaar, Hotels Sea Rock and Juhu Centaur.