The prosecution in the 1993 serial bomb blasts case today threatened to initiate contempt proceedings against Bollywood personalities who have announced the launch of a signature campaign in support of actor Sanjay Dutt, held guilty under for illegal possession of weapons.

Special Public Prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam told the move by some Bollywood personalities to launch a campaign from December 12 to seek lesser punishment for Dutt amounted to direct interference in the judicial process.

He said the court has already held Dutt guilty and would soon decide on the quantum of his sentence. He faces a prison term of up to 10 years for his conviction under the Arms Act.

"By influencing the judicial process, Bollywood personalities are committing contempt of court and we are seriously considering to initiate contempt proceedings against them," Nikam said.

The common man's faith in the legal system would be eroded if Bollywood resorted to methods like launching signature campaigns to seek lesser punishment for Dutt, he said.

"Let this issue be decided by the court and no one must try to interfere by influencing the judiciary," said Nikam, adding such moves are a threat to the democratic process.

Association of Motion Pictures and Television Progamme Producers president Pahlaj Nihalani had recently announced that Bollywood personalities would participate in the campaign at Filmcity to express their support to Dutt, who he said had helped film industry workers in the past.