Bollywood star convicted on firearms charge

Top Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt was convicted Tuesday of illegally possessing firearms but cleared of conspiracy charges in connection with India's deadliest series of bomb blasts.

Dutt, who had pleaded not guilty, had been charged with conspiracy, illegal possession of arms and trying to destroy evidence relating to a dozen bombings in 1993 that killed 257 people and injured more than 700 in Mumbai (formerly Bombay), India's financial and film capital.

Defence lawyer Satish Maneshinde said his client faced a possible sentence of five to 10 years, according to the BBC.

Dutt,who has starred in more than 100 Bollywood films,is the most high-profile of the 123 men and women facing trial over the attacks. So far, 80 have been convicted and 23 acquitted.

Alleged mob ties

The 47-year-old denied being involved in the plot, which was allegedly ordered by Muslim organized crime figures in retaliation for Hindu-Muslim religious riots months earlier that killed 2,000 people across India, mostly Muslims. Dutt claimed the firearms in his possession were for his family's protection.

Judge P.D. Kode, though, ruled Dutt guilty of illegally possessing weapons given to him by men accused of taking part in the bombings.

But, the judge added, "I've not found him to be a terrorist or destructor."

Dutt, son of late actors Sunil Dutt and Nargis, has developed a reputation as something of a bad-boy over his 25-year Bollywood career.

He has admitted to a period of drug use while he was in college and is known for starring in action-packed gangster films. In recent years, he has branched out into comic roles.

In 2001, a conversation was recorded in which Dutt spoke with reputed Pakistan-based underworldboss Chotta Shakeel.