New Delhi: The Supreme Court today gave some relief to actor Sanjay Dutt in the Mumbai blasts case as it commuted his jail sentence from six years to five years but would in effect be in jail for three and a half years.

The actor was given a six-year jail term by the TADA court. The court took cognizance of the fact that the actor had already spent 18 months behind the bars during the trial.

At the same time, the apex court rejected his probation plea and directed him to surrender within four weeks.

Referring to Dutta, the court said: ‘the circumstances and nature of offence was so serious that he cannot be released on probation. “... (the) evidence and materials perused by the TADA court in arriving at the decision against Dutt was correct.”

The actor had been convicted for illegal possession of a 9mm pistol and an AK-56 rifle, but was acquitted of more serious charges of criminal conspiracy.

The Court also pronounced judgment in the case of others convicted for the blasts.

After 10-month hearing that started on 1 November 2011, the Court had in August 2012 reserved its verdict in the case.

On 12 March 1993, Mumbai was rocked by a series of blasts that killed 257 people and left 713 injured.