Mumbai:
The Opposition parties in Maharashtra on Friday urged the government not to reduce the sentence of Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt, who was sentenced in the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts case.
A delegation of the Opposition will meet the state home minister and Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan later in the day and will put up their demand.
Earlier on Wednesday, the Home Ministry had sought reduction in Dutt's jail term seeking opinion of Maharashtra government. The suggestion will also be taken in case of two other convicts in the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts.
The move came after Press Council of India chief Justice (retd) Markandey Katju petitioned President Pranab Mukherjee seeking relief for the actor and two others, including a 70 year-old women, on humanitarian grounds.
"The Home Ministry sought the opinion of the Maharashtra government after the President forwarded applications of Katju and a few others seeking reduction of their sentences. We have asked the state government to provide its opinion, the jailor's comment on the actor's conduct and a few others issues," sources said.
The Supreme Court in its March 21 verdict awarded five years' imprisonment to the 53-year-old actor for illegal possession of arms. The apex court on May 14 refused to grant him more time to surrender.
