Not a Terrorist??

It now feels shameful to say that I had my fingers crossed when Sanjay Dutt was called upon for the verdict.

I’ve always liked him on screen. But more so during the couple of times that I have come face to face with him in the TADA Court. His overpowering individuality and the husky heavy voice leaves me speechless each time I want to start a conversation with him. I’ve tried salvaging this kind of a situation many times by flashing a sweet (a bit seductive) smile. I must confess I have gotten away with it, desirably so.

So when he finally walked those 15 meters towards the witness box, to be bestowed with a verdict that could change his life forever, I was rather nervous. “Accused number 117,” said the judge and my heart missed a beat. He had calmly walked down the aisle and stood quietly facing the judge. The sun rays through the rickety window were playing on his golden hair and peach skin. Were they rays of hope, oblivion or abandonment, nobody but the judge knew.

I had almost resigned to a failed heart when the judge began acquitting him of the charges under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities Act (TADA.) For a moment I thought he was edging towards freedom. That he would walk out of the long drawn corridor of the court in typical Munnabhai ishtyle- righteous and victorious. But it would have been too surreal. The judge finally convicted him of charges under the Arms Act- a much lighter act. He would eventually get out of it.

I was so relieved. I uncrossed my fingers, to go out there and congratulate him. I did so, even shared an exclusive little tête-à-tête with him. It was the moment of the day. He asked me to call him in a day or two so he could relax and talk to me in peace. Never mind the work deadlines, I gladly gave in. He was the god of all big lures and I had to but abide by his wishes. I argued with the boyfriend on how Sanju baba was the reformed new person and didn’t deserve to be in jail.

I came out of the court gleaming at the verdict, is reaction, the conversation…everything just went right. Only, that I had to come back to office and file a story on the happenings of the day. I made quick calls to lawyers, his friends, film analysts, police commissioners etc etc etc to add that bounce to my story.

And then I began to write….

One by one somehow the horrors of the blast came to my mind. The gore, the blood, the destruction of principles and values. I hadn’t met the victims of the blast ever, nor was I in Mumbai during the blasts. But I do know what it is to lose a loved one.

The reformed new man of today was the baddie of yesterday. He possessed the deadly rifle and by no means was he going to NOT use it. If he had three licensed weapons with him at home, why did he require another one? The judge acquitted him saying he needed the gun for self defence. Well, by that logic I may as well be applying for a grenades license tomorrow.

He was in touch with Dawood Ibrahim. All right, maybe before the blasts, Dawood was just another of the goons who financed films. But what about later? Dutt had the audacity to keep in touch with the “terrorist” Bhais even after he came out of the jail (remember his taped conversation with Chhota Shakeel in 1997?)

His so called friends whom he had ordered to destroy the weapons have been convicted for destroying the evidence- a huge charge. But no where has Dutt been charged with the same. It is very unlikely that grenades, pistols, fire rounds and Ak-56s some to his house, and he knows jack shit about any conspiracy. His close friend Samir Hingora (who also transported the weapons to him) was convicted of the conspiracy of attending the meeting in Dubai to plan the blasts. Did Dutt really not know anything about it??

The evidence is poor, but sometimes common sense makes you want to believe that Dutt isn’t just naïve, he did have something to do with the blasts after all. Why should he be let out only because we as citizens, journalists, movie buffs want to see him dish out another scintillating performance a la Munnabhai?

Yes, I will still go and watch his film, if another one releases. I will still sigh each time he comes on screen. But this time round, my fingers will not be crossed when the higher court delivers the final verdict.