Sanjay Dutt, a renowned Indian film actor, was held under the TADA (Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act) in 1993.

TADA:
- TADA was an anti-terrorism law enacted in India in 1985 to combat acts of terrorism and disruptive activities.
- It provided for the detention of suspects for up to 180 days without filing charges, allowed confessions made to the police to be admissible in court, and established special courts to try terrorism-related cases.
- TADA was criticized for its potential for misuse and human rights violations, as it allowed for prolonged detention without trial and weakened safeguards for the accused.

Sanjay Dutt's Involvement:
- Sanjay Dutt was arrested on April 19, 1993, in connection with the 1993 Bombay bombings, a series of coordinated bomb explosions that took place in Mumbai (formerly Bombay) on March 12, 1993.
- The bombings were carried out by a criminal syndicate with alleged connections to organized crime and were aimed at retaliating against the perceived marginalization of the Muslim community in India.
- Sanjay Dutt's involvement was primarily related to his association with some of the individuals involved in the bombings.
- He was accused of illegally possessing and destroying weapons, including an AK-56 assault rifle, which was allegedly provided to him by the masterminds behind the bombings.
- Sanjay Dutt maintained that he had acquired the weapons for self-defense due to threats during the communal tensions following the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya in 1992.
- He was charged under various sections of the TADA, including possession of illegal firearms.

Legal Proceedings and Conviction:
- Sanjay Dutt faced a lengthy legal battle that lasted for years.
- He was initially acquitted of the more severe charges under the TADA but was found guilty of possessing illegal weapons.
- In 2006, the Supreme Court of India upheld his conviction and sentenced him to six years of imprisonment.
- Sanjay Dutt served around 18 months in jail before being released on bail in 2007.
- In 2013, the Supreme Court reduced his sentence to five years, taking into consideration the time he had already served.
- He surrendered to serve the remaining three and a half years and was released in February 2016.

Conclusion:
- Sanjay Dutt's case under the TADA was a significant event in Indian legal history and drew considerable media attention.
- His conviction highlighted the complexities of the legal system and raised debates about justice, terrorism, and the misuse of anti-terrorism laws.

TADA