Amid reports that actor Sanjay Dutt may be released early from jail, a social activist has written a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis requesting him not to allow it, as it will set “a wrong precedent” for high-profile criminals.
Dutt is likely to be released from jail next year, nearly three-and-a-half months before completing his sentence, as he is likely to benefit from all 105 days of remittance for good behaviour during his stay at Yerwada jail.
However, the proposal granting him the remittance is yet to be cleared by the Maharashtra government.
“I have written a letter to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and have requested him not to show any leniency to the actor. This will set a wrong precedent for high-profile criminals who would also want the same preferential treatment from the government,” activist Pradeep Bhalekar said.
“Rather, I have urged the Chief Minister to show some sympathy to thousands of undertrial prisoners who have no backing to fight the case and are languishing in jails,” he said.
Bhalekar, who runs a city-based organisation named Samajik Karyakarta Sanrakshan Samiti, has been following the issues of prisoners, especially undertrails, in the state with an aim to fight for their right to justice.
Dutt was sentenced to a 5-year imprisonment after he was convicted in the 1993 blasts case for possessing an illegal weapon. He had already served 18 months before the verdict was pronounced. The 56-year-old actor is now completing the remaining prison term of 42 months and is lodged at the Yerawada Central Jail in Pune.
“I went through some reports that government is mulling to release Sanjay Dutt from jail nearly three-and-half months before completing his sentence, because of his good behaviour during jail term,” Bhalekar said.
“If it happens, it would be a black day for the state, as Sanjay Dutt no way deserves an apology or remittance for his so-called good behaviour,” he said.
Bhalekar has written a 9-page letter, attaching the 1993 serial blasts’ pictures and also details of some RTI queries made by him pertaining to undertrial prisoners.
“According to an RTI reply received by me, there were 27,740 prisoners across 57 jails in the state by March 2014, which included 18,499 undertrials. Out of these 18,499 undertrials, 994 are women. Why is the Chief Minister not doing anything for these people? Just because they are common men and women?” he asked.
On the one hand Bollywood actors and Salman Khan’s fans are celebrating after the actor’s acquittal in the 2002 hit and run case on the other hand social activists and political leaders were unhappy with the Bombay High Court verdict. The film fraternity took to twitter and congratulated Salman Khan who had faced a legal trouble for 13 years. Salman Khan broke down after Bombay High Court acquitted him of all charges in the hit-and-run case. The High Court’s verdict came as a huge relief not just to the actor and his family but millions of fans across the globe.
Advocate Abha Singh said exonerating Bollywood superstar Salman Khan in connection with the 2002 hit-and-run case was appalling and a sad day for the Indian criminal judiciary system. She said, ““The chemical analyst report found that alcohol content in Salman Khan’s case was adequate. If the court is not ready to look into these statements then one can only say that it is a sad day for the criminal justice system of the country. It really shows that it is an appalling for the Indian judiciary system.”
Expressing his strong displeasure over continuous disruptions in the Lower and Upper House, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said that “it’s matter of sorrow that Parliament is not running”.