Despite Sanjay Dutt’s statement saying that he would not apply for mercy, Press Council of India (PCI) chairman Justice Markandey Katju (retd) on Thursday said that he would still seek pardon for Dutt and 1993 Mumbai blasts case convict Zaibunnisa. Asked for a reaction on the Bollywood actor’s statement, Mr Katju said, “That makes no difference to me, I am going to apply for pardon to the President and to the governor (of Maharashtra). I think he (Dutt) and Zaibunnissa both deserve pardon.” He stated that public good was one of the grounds for seeking the pardon and added that “there can be many other considerations like humanitarian considerations for grant of pardon.” “If you study the Articles 72 and 161 of the Constitution, they do not state that who can appeal. Section 72 provides power to the President to pardon and Section 166 to the governor,” he said.
