Mumbai: Tuesday Sanjay Dutt was found guilty of illegal possession of arms. However, the actor was granted bail until 19 Dec by a special court, which had also absolved him of the more serious charges of conspiring in the 1993 Mumbai terror bombings.

The special Terrorism And Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) court accepted Dutt's bail plea. The star had been out on bail after already spending 18 months in jail in 1993-94. He now stands to serve a minimum sentence of a year to a maximum of 10 years under the Arms Act.

Nonetheless, Dutt was acquitted of the more serious charge of conspiracy and of helping terrorists under TADA.

"After due reasoning during the trial, I did not find him to be a terrorist," special judge P.D. Kode had said.

"When I heard that the judge had said that Sanjay is not a terrorist, it was a feeling of great relief," said Priya Dutt at her residence, shortly after having returned from the Tada Court.

"This was the moment when we missed our father the most because he would have loved to hear only that sentence. He (Sanjay) used to always assure everybody that he was not a criminal. Today after the court's decision he felt a bit relieved that the 13-year-old wait was finally over," she added. "Absolving the label of 'terrorist' was the biggest gift we have got."

The judgement came as the 47-year-old actor had been enjoying the height of his screen popularity following the phenomenal success of the super-hit comedy Lage Raho Munnabhai.

Dutt comes from an acting family and his father, Sunil Dutt, was also sports minister in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government before he died last year.

42-year-old Zulekha Sheikh, a resident of Mira Road, who had been working along with Sunil Dutt as a social worker, has always been grateful to the Dutt family. Sheikh came down to catch a glimpse of 'Sanju Baba' with the hope that the court would set him free. When she left her house, she made a promise to Allah that if the actor were set free she would feed the poor at the local dargah.

"Dutt sahab was a great human being. I had met several times when he used to come to meet the needy and poor in Santa Cruz and nearby areas," Sheikh said outside the Dutt residence on Tuesday. Shiekh, who also worked as a chorus artist in the industry, had worked with Sanjay Dutt in his debut film Rocky since then she always liked the person Sanjay Dutt is.

"He was always over active and fun loving but I am sure he would never commit a crime. He might have done some mistake but I am sure they are not that serious that he should be punished," said Sheikh adding, "He has already served his term I think he should be set free now." Baba Siddiqui, "Dutt saheb had the same expectation from the judgement. The family are nationalists. They love their country and everyone is happy. The allegation of him being a terrorist has proved wrong. Sanjay was very happy with the judgement." Congress MLA Ashok Yadav, "After 13 years of wait finally the happiness has come. I have full faith in the judiciary. It is all because of his parents' blessings and his truth. 13 years the family has struggled and at last they have emerged from a trying situation as a winner." Adding, "This is the only thing that has been shameful for the family."

Bunty Walia told a daily, "The case has been going for a long time. Sanjay was never a terrorist as he was portrayed and he is really tired now and is planning to stay home today to rest."

Satish Manshinde, Dutt's advocate said, "Firstly Sanjay has been prohibited to talk to the media. I am sure he will have a tension free sleep today. Now that we know the outer limit of the case we can decide the course of action now."

A visibly tense Dutt, who had been sitting quietly in the last row of the courtroom, was called to the stand at 12.40 p.m. as accused No. 117. When the judge was reading out the verdict, he was shaking.

Absolving Dutt of charges under various sections of TADA, judge Kode said: "Considering matters in his confession and also taking into account certain admissions from other evidence, I accept the stand of Sanjay of acquiring and possessing weapons for self defence and not any terror acts."

"He was naive, stupid and foolish but not evil" came the statemet after the special TADA court acquitted the film star of serious offences under the TADA Act but pronounced him guilty under the Arms Act.

Timidly walking up to the witness box, he stood there, head bowed, and avoiding eye contact with the judge. He shook as he listened to the charges read out to him. When Mr. Justice Kode announced, "Sanjay Dutt is not a terrorist," there were sighs of relief throughout the court.

"Can you hear me for two minutes please?" Dutt asked Kode after the verdict was read out. He appealed to the court that he would like to complete his ongoing films, make arrangements for his daughter to stay with her grandparents, and settle his late father Sunil Dutt's will.

He told the court that he was the only guardian of his daughter, presently studying in the U.S. "My daughter studies in New York. I need some time for arranging her education. There is no one to look after her," he said.

Mr. Justice Kode asked him to 'wait' and said his plea would be heard later, after the completion of the verdict. "I will give you a chance to clarify later, but not now," the judge replied.

Mr. Dutt then silently left the box and sat down again in the back row; he was visibly relieved. His greatest concern was about the charges relating to conspiracy in the Mumbai serial blasts, of which he was acquitted.

After the judgment, Mr. Dutt's lawyer moved a bail plea citing his "desire to complete his pending movies, getting time to provide arrangements for his daughter and settling his late father Sanjay Dutt's will." During the argument of his bail application, judge Kode admonished Dutt, who paced around witness box restlessly. "Sit down in one place and wait for the me to consider your bail application," Kode told the visibly nervous actor.

Mr. Justice Kode granted him bail till December 19.

Attributing the acquittal of Dutt to Lord Ganesha's blessings on his devotee, singing legend Asha Bhonsle said she was happy Dutt no longer had to face the humiliation of being dubbed a terrorist.

"Today's verdict has shown that Lord Ganesha has blessed Sanjay, his devotee," the singer said. "No artist is a terrorist. I am very delighted that he has been absolved of the terrorism charge," Ms. Bhonsle said about Dutt, who recently sang along with her in her latest musical video 'Asha and Friends'.

Like so many many times before, Dutt had visited the famous Siddhivinayak temple in central Mumbai to offer prayers to Lord Ganesha on the eve of the TADA verdict.

"For a child of such illustrious parents, life has brought a lot of misery in his way," she said. "He lost his wife due to cancer and later faced the humiliation of being dubbed as a terrorist. I feel sorry for him," she added.

"One learns from mistakes in life. I am sure this experience would teach him a lot and he would be able to take charge of his life for the better," she said.

Dutt has about Rs 115 crore riding on him. The court's proceedings granted him bail until till 19 December at least.

"Lage Raho Munnabhai is the biggest hit in his 25-year career," trade analyst Amod Mehra said. "Though things will become clearer after 19 December, there is no stopping him if the court gives him a longer reprieve," he added.

Three of the seven films he has on hand are complete and the other four are in different stages of completion. In addition to these projects, there were plans for the actor to cut a music album.

Director Sanjay Gupta, one of Sanjays closest friends, said: "Both of us have seen days without a bank balance. But we have always managed to bounce back."

Additionally, Congress was also greatly relieved over the TADA court acquittal of conspiracy and terrorism charges agaist the star.

"It's a great relief to me and my party as Sanjay, who is a member of the Congress family, has been convicted for a minor offence," said Mumbai Region Congress Committee president and Parliament member Gurudas Kamat. "Sanjay's father and mother were active party workers. His sister Priya represents the party in the Lok Sabha. So, it's great news."

Kamat had said on Monday that adverse verdict against Sanjay would not affect Priya's political profile due to mass appeal of her family.

"I feel vindicated today," an elated Priya said. "From feeling like an accused for the last 13 years to today's verdict has been a long journey. Today, he is free from all that," Priya said.