I went to Sanjay's house to see him: Salem aide

Mansoor Ahmed Sayed, an aide of gangster Abu Salem, told a TADA court on Thursday that he was not connected with the 1993 bomb blast conspiracy and had gone to actor Sanjay Dutt's house only because he wanted to meet the star.

Mansoor was one of six convicts who pleaded for leniency in punishment following their conviction in the blasts case by the court of Judge P D Kode.

He was found guilty of carrying weapons to Sanjay's house and delivering arms to the actor.

"I am innocent and had accompanied Abu Salem to Sanjay's house because I wanted to see him (Sanjay)," said Mansoor in his statement on the quantum of his sentence.

Mansoor said he was in custody for nine years and was repenting his mistake.

He said he had to look after his 75-year-old mother as well as his wife and daughter. He also said his house was damaged in the 2005 floods and his domestic expenses were met with the income from an STD booth.

Sixty-four-year-old Zebunisa Kazi, who was found guilty of receiving arms brought from Sanjay's house, also broke down during her statemnt on the quantum of sentence.

She said, "I am innocent and have not committed any offence."

Zebunisa said she was a widow with five daughters. Her only source of income was the rent from a property owned by her late father.

She pleaded for leniency, saying her daughters were of marriageable age and would suffer if she was put behind bars.

Sanjay's friend Yusuf Nallwala said he had faced trial for 13 years and had an old mother to look after. He said his brother had severed relations with the family and he (Yusuf) was the family's only earning member.

Yusuf said he had not misused any bail conditions imposed by the court and sought lesser punishment.