Sanjay Dutt’s punishment period has been reduced based on his conduct and he will be released prior to the scheduled release date.
Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt is all set to walk free from Yerwada jail on February 27. Jail authorities have decided to curtail Sanjay’s punishment period based on his conduct and he will be released prior to the scheduled release date. Dutt was sentenced to five-year imprisonment after he was convicted for possessing an illegal weapon, part of the cache meant to be used during the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts in which 257 people were killed. Thus new year has started on a good note for the 56 year old actor. The release will be 103 days ahead of the official end of his prison term.
Dutt’s five-year sentence for his involvement in the 1993 Mumbai blasts was confirmed by the Indian Supreme Court in March 2013. The Apex Court had convicted Dutt under the Arms Act for possessing weapons in 2013 and sentenced him to six years in jail. He had spent about 18 months behind bars earlier and is now serving his remaining 42-month jail term. Earlier sources had said the actor would be released by March 7.
Sources said the home department had approved the proposal to give the actor, currently lodged in Yerawada central prison, the benefits of remittance for good conduct. Sources in the state secretariat said Dr Ranjit Patil, the minister of state home, cleared the proposal. Patil, however, has not given an official confirmation that the proposal was cleared. He did not deny it either.
In between serving time, he was granted either parole or furlough on various grounds, attracting a lot of criticism from various quarters, while some prominent personalities demanded his release from jail.
Netizens tweeted about Sanjay Dutt’s release. Here is what they had to say.
lindsay pereira @lindsaypereira “I think it’s great that Sanjay Dutt is being released. It must be tiring for him to go from jail to parole every other month.”
Ms Crazy Rover! @mallika_dutt1 “Is Sanjay Dutt out on a parole to celebrate new year? Or he is out for ever? #justasking”
Azaad Singh @sovereignsingh “Sanjay Dutt released 3 months early, & Sikhs languish in prison even after completing sentences.”
