New Delhi: The Supreme Court will today pronounce its verdict on the 124 cross appeals by those convicted by a special court for the 1993 Bombay serial bomb blasts, including film star Sanjay Dutt, as well as by the Maharashtra government challenging some acquittals and seeking enhanced sentences for other guilty.
A bench of Justice
P Sathasivam and Justice B S Chauhan had heard the spate of cross petitions by the convicts and the state of Maharashtra over ten months. The hearing that commenced on November 1, 2011, concluded on August
29, 2012. The judgment is divided into six parts. Justice Sathasivam will pronounce judgment on appeal against death sentences and life imprisonments in parts 1 and 2 respectively.
He will also pronounce judgment under part 6 dealing with cases of conviction under the Arms Act/Explosive Substances Act. This part will deal with the appeal of Sanjay Dutt challenging his conviction under the Arms Act that led to a six-year jail term. Justice Chauhan will pronounce verdicts on the appeals covering varying terms of imprisonment in part 3, judgments dealing with appeals by accused challenging their conviction in part 4, and finally verdicts dealing with the appeals filed by the Maharashtra government against the acquittal of accused in part 5.
IANS
