For Those Left Behind

THIS is , literally, the inside story. Asghar Mukadam, 31, sits In his cell in Arthur Road Jail, reading the Quran and other scriptures. Like his star counterpart, he is "guilty, until proved innocent". Unlike Sanjay Dutt, however, he has yet to smell freedom. "We are happy for Sanjay. After all, he's our brother," says Akhtar, Asghar's brother. "But we haven't applied for bail: we don't have that kind of money." Many share Akhtar's pessimism and the tragedy of having a brother booked under TADA: a few hundred are in jail on blast-related charges.

Defence counsel A. Majeed Memon, however, is upbeat. He feels Sanjay's release could open doors for the rest. "I'11 use the man against whom there's maximum evidence, among the 11 freed along with Sanjay, and compare charges. The court will be compelled to release a couple of the test. Otherwise, it would be an act of judicial indiscipline."