M’rashtra to probe Sanjay Dutt’s parole

Shiv Kumar

Tribune News Service

Mumbai, December 26

The Maharashtra Government will probe the frequent grant of parole to actor Sanjay Dutt who is undergoing imprisonment for possessing illegal weapons.

“Since Sanjay Dutt is granted parole regularly we will now look into other criminals serving their sentence whose applications for parole have been kept pending. If any injustice has been shown to anyone we will order an inquiry,” Minister of State for Home Ram Shinde said today.

Dutt was granted a 14-day furlough on Christmas’ eve. The actor will be back in jail only after New Year.

Dutt was sent to the Yerwada prison last year to serve his three-and-a-half year long sentence. However, he was granted parole for treatment of his illness in October 2013. The furlough was extended on his request. Dutt was granted a month-long parole again in December last year which was extended after his wife Maanyata fell ill.

Under the law, Sanjay Dutt can extend the current period of furlough for another 14 days. The frequent grant of furlough to Dutt has been criticised since many long-serving prisoners have been denied parole for years.