New Delhi, August 10
There was no chance of immediate relief to Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt from the Supreme Court as it fixed hearing on his bail petition and appeal for August 20 along with four other convicts, including the man who was convicted for taking arms to his Pali Hill bungalow.

The Court, which yesterday dispelled the impression of any preferential treatment to the actor in taking up his case on priority than other convicts in the 1993 Mumbai bomb blast case, today refused to entertain film star’s petition separately on Monday next even as his counsel Falai S Nariman raised certain questions on fundamental rights of an accused under Article 21 of the Constitution.

Nariman said under Article 21 of the Constitution an accused has a right of fair trial and by not making available the judgement copy to Sanjay by special judge P.D. Kode, would make him entitled to release from jail at least for the period till the verdict is provided to him.

Nariman said the trial judge had stated that he would try to give the verdict by August 24, at least till then the “status quo” as existed on July 31 in respect of Sanjay’s earlier bail be maintained till trial judge makes the judgment available.

A Bench of Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan and Justice R.V. Raveendran told Nariman that the cases of all convicts, who had so far approached the apex court in appeal or for bail would be taken up on August 24 without waiting for the judgment of the trial judge.

The Court issued notice to the CBI on his petition and bail application seeking agency’s reply by August 20.