Dutt: Won’t apply for pardon

Breaking his silence after the Supreme Court verdict in the 1993 serial blasts case, actor Sanjay Dutt on Thursday said that he would not seek pardon. The actor said that he would surrender within the time frame set by the SC. “All I want to say is that I am a law abiding citizen of my country, I respect the law and I have the highest respect for the honourable Supreme Court and I have the highest respect for what the decision is and I will abide by all the terms and conditions of the honourable Supreme Court put on me and I will surrender within the time given. The SC has given me four weeks time to surrender,” Mr Dutt said. Dutt addressed the media in a hastily-organised press conference on Thursday morning outside his Bandra home where he told the media that he was not going to be involved in seeking a pardon for himself. The actor was accompanied by his sister and member of Parliament Priya Dutt. Dutt also spoke on the issue of the controversy surrounding efforts being made by his well-wishers to pardon him and said that he was not involved in it. “All I can tell you all is that I have not applied for any pardon. There are many other people who deserve a pardon and with folded hands I want to tell the media and honourable citizens of my country and senior media people is that when I am not going for a pardon then there is no debate about it (sic),”said Dutt. As he was saying this, the actor broke down. Priya, who was sitting beside him, consoled him, as did other family members. Dutt then said that he was a shattered man. “Right now I am a shattered man. My family is also shattered. (These are) very tough times in my life, our lives. I want to thank everybody who supported us and supported me.” Throughout his two-and–a-half minute statement, Dutt was very emotional. He at one point folded his hands and told the assembled reporters that he wanted to be left alone. “I would just like to tell everybody from the media that I have got a few days left (to go to jail) and I have got to finish a lot of work. I want to finish all the work and I want to spend all this time with my family. So with folded hands, I tell you all to let me be in peace till the time I am going,” said Dutt.