A few weeks back Pune resident Pradeep Bhalekar moved the Bombay High Court (HC) with a PIL questioning why Sanjay Dutt was granted an early release. HC in its turn asked the Maharastra Government to come up with a suitable reply within the next one week. However, that didn't happen.
Finally this morning, the additional public prosecutor Prajakta Shinde told the HC that Maharashtra state’s Advocate General Ashutosh Kumbhakoni would personally come in and clarify the doubts to the court and also file an affidavit to the same effect. But for the same, Ashutosh needs a couple of weeks extra time. The HC has relented and given the government the 2 weeks to comply.
Sanjay Dutt Waves Out To His Fans Post His Release From The Prison
Sanjay Dutt Waves Out To His Fans Post His Release From The Prison
The HC bench thus gave a new date of hearing after two weeks, which should be considered as a final date to submit the necessary responses to the PIL filed by Pradeep.
For those who've come in late, Dutt has been a free man since February 2016. He walked away from prison almost 8 months prior to his release date and it was granted by the Maharashtra government after looking at his good conduct. However, the government seems to be in trouble now for its decision to grant Dutt an early release. The HC had asked the Maharastra government to explain why Dutt was given an early release.
If the affidavit to be filed by Ashutosh doesn't satisfy the queries put forward by the PIL to the necessary limit, this could spell fresh trouble for Dutt.
Sanjay Dutt Addresses The Media Post His Release From Prison
When Dutt was in jail, he was out on parole and furlough many times, and this enraged many people, and Pradeep was one of them. People often commented on social media, saying that Dutt was using his star status to stay out of jail, and to leave 8 months early from prison. During his imprisonment, Dutt was granted parole of 90 days in December 2013 and later again for 30 days.
Justice Sawant of the HC in his initial statement had questioned the government: “Was the DIG Prisons, consulted or did the jail superintendent directly send his recommendation to the governor? Also, how did the authorities assess that Dutt’s conduct was good? When did they get the time to make such assessment when he was out on parole half the time?”
Sanjay Dutt Surrenders To The Police
Sanjay Dutt Surrenders To The Police
The whole story began when Dutt was sentenced to 5 years in jail for possession of arms, which were a part of the consignment used in the 1993 blasts. He was on bail during the marathon trial. On July 31, 2007, the TADA court in Mumbai sentenced him to 6 years of rigorous imprisonment under the Arms Act. Not just that, they even imposed a fine of Rs 25,000. Finally in May 2013 after the Supreme Court upheld his conviction, Dutt surrendered to the police.
Let's wait and watch what the Maharashtra government says in its response.
Image Source: Manav Manglani & vk