Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt, who faces a prison term of up to 10 years following his conviction in the 1993 blasts case, on Tuesday sought leniency from the TADA court in Mumbai saying that he was the sole earning member of his family.
Sanjay, who was convicted on Tuesday under the Arms Act for illegally possessing a 9mm pistol and an AK-56 rifle, told Judge P D Kode that the burden of his family had fallen on his shoulders after the death of his father Sunil Dutt, 18 months ago.
"I have a young daughter aged 18, studying in New York and I am supporting her as her grandparents are old. Her future depends on me," said the actor, who was cleared by the same court of charges of terrorism and conspiracy.
"I love the country and the people of the country. Please show mercy and leniency on me," Sanjay told the judge, adding that he had personally raised funds for the Prime Minister's Relief Fund for tsunami.
Sanjay also said his father had started a cancer foundation 23 years ago after the death of his mother, actress Nargis, and he had now taken up its work. The foundation is based in the US and Canada and it purchases equipment and sends them to India to help cancer patients who cannot afford treatment.
Admitting he was slightly nervous, he told the court that he was in custody for 16 months before his release on bail in October 1995.
"I was on bail for 11 years and there was no complaint of misuse of liberty when I travelled within the country and abroad. I abided by the conditions imposed by the court," he said, adding that he had no pending cases against him.
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