1993 Mumbai serial blasts case: Sanjay Dutt gave me a bag containing 2 rifles, hand grenades and bullets, reveals Abu Salem

1993 Mumbai serial blasts left the country into a trauma which was not easy to recover from. Sanjay Dutt, who was one of accused in this most destructive bomb explosions in Indian history, was found guilty of keeping the rifles and was arrested under arms act. The TADA court convicted him and he was taken to Yerwada jail.

Dutt was let out in February 2016, eight months early, on account of his good conduct while in Pune’s Yerwada prison. Now that the actor is a free man, excerpts from the statement by Abu Salem, one of the accused in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case, seeks our attention.

Abu Salem in his statement said, "Dutt called for a tool kit, which he used to open the sides and flooring of the van. The vehicle had 9-10 rifles, 80-90 hand grenades, magazines and bullets. I was seeing these things for the first time. I was shocked. Sanjay Dutt, Baba and Hingora saw the rifles. Dutt took 2-3 rifles, hand grenades, a few bullets and magazines."

Read more: Bombay HC questions Sanjay Dutt's early release from prison

"Dutt gave me a bag containing 2 rifles, hand grenades and bullets. After keeping the van at Mahim, I telephoned Aziz and asked what was happening. Aziz told me there was nothing to worry and the material belonged to Anwarbhai and Qayyum. He asked me to keep quiet.", he further added.

He reveals, "After some days, Aziz told me Baba Chauhan was arrested and asked me to leave the city. I left for Azamgarh with my wife. After staying there for 2 to 3 days, I moved to Lucknow. I got passports for us in fake names — Akil Ahmed Azmi and Salima Azmi."

In response to Sanjay Dutt early release from prison the Bombay High Court asked the Maharashtra government to justify this decision.

Now, Maharashtra government is gearing up to defend itself in Bombay High Court for its action. According to an official from the Home State Department, Sanjay Dutt’s release is exactly as per the rules and jail manual, just like a common prisoner, not a single day of special remission has been awarded to him.

“He has been treated as an ordinary prisoner all along”, an official said as per the reports.

Read more: Director Aarambhh Singh says Sanjay Dutt will play his age in 'Malang'

The official said state government is ready to defend its stand in the Court.

“The prison department has already submitted the affidavit on the actor’s release and the rest of the details will be provided by us.”

Now that the actor is out of the entire case, he will be seen in his come back film ‘Bhoomi’. Also, Rajkumar Hirani is working on the biopic on Sanjay Dutt’s controversial life which has Ranbir Kapoor playing the actor.