Sanjay Dutt walks free, says ''I am not a terrorist''

Pune/Mumbai, February 25

Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt today walked out of Yerawada jail a free man after being released 103 days ahead of his prison term and asserted that he is not a terrorist and wants to leave behind the bitter memories of conviction in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts.

"I am not a terrorist. I have been acquitted of charges under TADA and conspiracy. The Supreme Court had also acquitted me under (IPC) section 120-B of conspiracy and TADA.

I got the sentence under the Arms Act," the 56-year-old actor said, addressing the media after returning to his Mumbai home.

"I request the media that whenever they write or mention anything about me, don't write 1993 blasts case before my name... I'm not into it," Dutt said.

According to ADG (Prisons) B K Upadhyay said the actor did not get any special treatment in prison.

A relieved Dutt, clad in a blue shirt and jeans, stepped out of the Yerawada prison near Pune, lugging a huge bag.

As he walked out, Dutt turned back and saluted the tricolour atop the prison building and touched the soil before heading to the car in which his wife Manyata, twins Iqra and Shahraan and filmmaker-friend Rajkumar Hirani.

Before taking a chartered flight to Mumbai, Sanjay told reporters at the airport, "There is no easy walk to freedom, my friends".

Dutt was set free after completing prison formalities at around 8.45 AM and came out escorted by police who had tightened security in the area.

Dutt, son of Indian film icons Sunil and Nargis Dutt, returned to his home at Bandra in Mumbai to a grand and emotional welcome by his family members, including two children, and sisters Namrata and Priya.

Lanes leading to his house were lined with hoardings like "Welcome Back Sanju Baba", "Bandraites Welcome Back Bandra Boy Sanjay Dutt" with a picture of young Dutt with his mother Nargis.

Also, a photo of his late actor-politician father Sunil Dutt was put up at the gate of his building 'Imperial Heights' along with a message that read - "Dutt Sahab Amar Rahe". Fans were seen eagerly awaiting Dutt's return.

After landing in Mumbai, the actor visited the Siddhivinayak temple and his mother Nargis Dutt's grave.

"She (Dutt's mother) passed away when we were very small. I went to seek her blessings as I am a free man today," he said.

WATCH: Actor Sanjay Dutt released from Pune's Yerwada Central Jail in the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts case

— ANI (@ANI_news)

The actor said, "For 23 years I have been waiting for this moment... for freedom. I did everything (followed the law). It's a feeling that will take a while to sink-in."

"I miss my father (Sunil Dutt) today. I wish he was alive to see this day... if he would have been (alive), he would have been the happiest person," he said. Meanwhile, co-stars and friends from Bollywood have wished Dutt a peaceful life and a great career ahead. Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt said the 56-year-old actor would emerge stronger.

“People have always written his obituary but he has bounced back. He has dazzled everyone with his work. This time too I am hopeful he will come out as a more stronger man,” Bhatt told PTI. “I think now on, this will be the best years of his life with new beginnings,” he said.

Bhatt recalled how he and Dutt began their respective careers together and delivered several hits. The duo worked together on films like “Naam”, “Gumrah”, “Sadak” and others.

“I don’t look at him as an actor and even he doesn’t look at me as a director. While making “Naam” we came close emotionally,” he added. The “Saaransh” director wishes Dutt and his family all the best.

“His wife Manyata wanted me to be at his home today. I think this is a personal moment for him and I don’t want to invade on this time. I would surely meet him soon,” Bhatt said.

The onscreen “Munnabhai” has given memorable performances in many of Subhash Ghai’s films, the most memorable being “Khalnayak”.

“If I know Sanjay Dutt since “Vidhata” and “Khalnayak”… he will come out this time with much more maturity and sense of responsibility as a human being and also as a bigger star onscreen than ever,” Ghai said.

“He wants to focus on his career as an actor, nothing else... that’s what he told me two months back,” he adds.

Before going to prison in 2013 to serve the remainder of his five-year term, Dutt was working on director Rensil D’Silva’s “Ungli”.

“(Now) He needs rest... he needs to relax first, spend time with his family and near and dear ones. He is a great friend. I am happy he is back. And I wish him a peaceful life,” Rensil said. — PTI