The Sanjay Dutt case is different from the Navjyot Singh Sidhu case and both should not be clubbed together, feels the Bharatiya Janata Party.
"These are two different cases. While Sidhu's conviction was stayed by the apex court soon after the high court judgment, the same does not apply to Sanjay Dutt. Besides Sidhu was accused of unintentional murder, but Dutt has been accused of keeping weapons at his house and was convicted by the Supreme Court which upheld the judgment of the trail court. He has served sentence and he is barred from contesting. Besides Sidhu resigned from Parliament the moment he was convicted and contested again," party leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told rediff.com.
"I see no reason when my brother Sidhu can be allowed to serve the nation why I cannot be allowed to do the same," Dutt said at a press conference in Mumbai on Friday night. He was accompanied by Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh.
Anil B Diwan, a leading lawyer in the Supreme Court, said the nature of crime would have to be looked into.
"He was let off under the TADA act but was convicted for keeping arms which is slightly lesser crime. There is no Constitutional aspect involved in the matter. It is up to the apex court to take a decision," Diwan said.
Asked his reaction, CPI leader D Raja distanced himself from the controversy.
"Let the Election Commission of India take a decision on the matter," he said.
