PIL alleges actor is getting preferential treatment.
By Sreekanth A Nair
As Sanjay Dutt is all set to walk out of jail on Thursday, a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Bombay High Court against the release of the actor.
The litigation filed by Pradeep Bhalekar alleges that the actor is getting preferential treatment as he is a celebrity and it is against the principle of equality. He is arguing that the decision to release the actor should be canceled and he should be lodged in the jail for completing the five-year term.
Officials have confirmed that the 56-year-old actor will be released from the Yerawada Central Jail in Pune on Thursday morning.
Maharashtra Minister of State for Home Ram Shinde said that Dutt will be released on February 25, 2016.
“Dutt will be released tomorrow (February 25) in the morning around 10 AM in keeping with the normal procedures as applied to every prisoner who has completed his sentence and jail term,” Yerawada Jail Superintendent UT Pawar said.
But Pawar refuted the allegation that the jail authorities had given Dutt special consideration and said that his remission was worked out in compliance with jail rules.
Dutt, who was convicted in 1993 Mumbai blast case for possessing illegal arms, has served 42 months in jail. He was sentenced to a five-year jail term. But eight months and 16 days have been remitted from his term for his good behavior in prison.
The actor was sent to jail in May 2013. He had served 18 months in jail during the trial and before the declaration of the five-year term by the Supreme Court of India.
Nitin Satpute, lawyer of Pradeep Bhalekar, said that the remission granted to the actor is illegal and wrong.
“The remission granted to Dutt is wrong and illegal. What is the good behavior and conduct that has been held as a ground for granting him remission and reducing his sentence? What about all the other convicts especially in petty offenses who are rotting in jail? They have also filed applications seeking remission but there has been no order on those,” Satpute said.
However, the petition is not likely to affect Dutt’s release. His family members will be there to receive him including wife Manyata and children.
The jail authorities have refused to give permission to hold a welcome ceremony planned by the family of Dutt in front of the jail on security grounds.