Former Justice of Supreme Court and present Press Council Chief Markandey Katju has wrote a letter to Mahrashtra governor K. Shankar Narayanan yesterday appealing to pardon Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt, who was given 5 years jail term by Supreme Court yesterday.

There was positive response from the Governor as well as Maharashtra Government for his appeal. Law Minister Aswini Kumar has stated that Governor can use his discretionary powers if such plea is forwarded to him by the concerned person. Information and Broadcasting Minister Manisih Tiwari also responds positively to his appeal and said that an appropriate decision will be taken by the appropriate level.

However, the two opposition parties in the state BJP and Shiva Sena have raised objections on Katju’s appeal to Governor. BJP MP Balnir Puri has stated that Katju has to remember that he is no longer remain the Supreme Court judge to recommendations to governors. When, Supreme Court has given its verdict everyone in the country has to obey it come it may be a poor or rich man. Otherwise it will mislead the people to think justice for rich and poor is different.

Shiva Sena MP Anil Desai has said that when the actor himself has expressed readiness to abide the court verdict, then why did anyone else beg pardon for him? When asking for pardon, he should remember about the victims, who lost their lives in the 1993 bomb blasts case.”