Mumbai: "What impression will the common man carry if Sanjay Dutt is released on probation?" asked special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam on Wednesday, as he argued against the actor's plea to be released on probation for good conduct and thereby escape a minimum five-year prison term.

Saying his punishment should work as a deterrent to others, Nikam said rather strongly, "There would be anarchy if tomorrow a Hindu militant places an anti-aircraft gun on his terrace in self-defence to protect against an imagined attack from foreign aircraft."

Arguments were to continue on Thursday; Dutt's bail was been extended by a day. However, the decision on the probation plea will be pronounced only along with the sentences for all the 100 convicts in the serial blasts case.

With the court holding him not guilty under the anti-terror law — Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (prevention) Act (Tada), Dutt, who has been convicted for a lesser offence under the Arms Act for possession of an AK-56 rifle and a 9mm pistol, is trying to avoid going to jail by seeking to benefit under the Probation of Offenders Act.

Nikam lashed out at Dutt, saying at 34 he was old enough to know the difference "between hunting rifles and weapons of mass destruction like the automatic AK-56 rifle."

He also said Sanjay Dutt's claims about fearing attacks during the 1993 communal riots were not borne out by the evidence in the confessions of co-accused Sameer Hingora.