New Delhi, Mar 29: Press Council of India (PCI) Chairman Justice Markandey Katju on Thursday wrote to President Pranab Mukherjee and made an appeal to pardon actor Sanjay Dutt and 1993 Mumbai blasts case convict Zaibunnisa.
In identical letters to Mukherjee, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, Katju said that even though Dutt has not requested for his pardon, he is entitled to make such an appeal.
"I therefore appeal to you to pardon Sanjay Dutt under Article 72 of the Constitution (President's power to grant pardon). I mention that Article 72 does not state who should send the appeal. Hence even if Sanjay Dutt has not sent an appeal I am entitled to send such an appeal," he said.
Katju cited several reasons for granting pardon to Dutt.
