I have a long battle to face, please pray for me: Sanjay Dutt

Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt, who was released today from Punes Yeravada jail where he was lodged in connection with the 1993 Mumbai blasts case, said he has full faith in the judiciary, but has a long battle to face.

Mumbai, Aug 23 : Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt, who was released today from Pune's Yeravada jail where he was lodged in connection with the 1993 Mumbai blasts case, said he has full faith in the judiciary, but has a "long battle to face".

Dutt thanked his fans, who stood by him while he was in jail, and said "I have a long battle to face, please pray for me."

"I have full faith in the judiciary, full faith in my country and full faith in the people of my country," Dutt said, while addressing the media outside his Bandra residence.

"I will abide by the law and the decision of the court," he added.

Dutt, however, refused to take any questions from the media.

Earlier today, Dutt stepped out of the jail and shook hands with police officers before leaving for his home.

Dressed in a white shirt and blue jeans, Dutt reached home, accompanied by his brother-in-law Kumar Gaurav, friend Yusuf Nalwala and lawyer Satish Maneshinde.

Family and friends, some of whom had arrived from overseas, welcomed him. A coconut was broken at the doorstep of Dutt's home as an auspicious ritual.

Dutt was granted interim bail by the Supreme Court on Monday. The release was delayed as a copy of the Supreme Court's order did not reach the jail.

His lawyers had petitioned the Supreme Court against his conviction by TADA court and sought bail until that appeal was ruled on.

Dutt was sentenced to six years of rigorous imprisonment by a TADA Court under the Arms Act for possession of arms, including an AK-56 assault rifle at the height of the 1993 communal riots in Mumbai.

Five other convicts -- Sameer Hingora, Aziz Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed Sheikh, Ibrahim Musa Chauhan, Yusuf Mohsin Nulwalla and Zaibunnisa Anwar Kazi -- were also granted relief by the apex court. They too were released today.

The apex court granted bail to all the six on the condition that they will report to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) office in Mumbai every week and will not abuse their grant of liberty and bail.

The TADA court is expected to give a copy of its judgment by August 27. Dutt, after getting a copy of the TADA court's judgment, will have to surrender before police.

Dutt has already spent nearly 16 months in prison before his release on bail in 1996.

ANI