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| Edited By: DNA Web Team |Source: DNA webdesk |Updated: May 18, 2016, 03:48 PM IST
Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt, convicted in the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blasts case, walked free from Pune's Yerwada jail on Thursday after he was granted remission in his five-year sentence.
Clad in blue shirt and jeans, a smiling Dutt was escorted out of the imposing jail gates this morning after completing formalities and got into a car that drove him straight to Lohegaon Airport in Pune to take a chartered flight to Mumbai.
The 56-year-old Dutt saluted the tri-colour fluttering on top of the jail building as he carried a bag containing his belongings and his inmate file with him.
He also saluted the soil outside the prison before he got into the waiting car, juggling a khaki bag and a green coloured file.
Dutt's wife Maanyata and noted film maker Rajkumar Hirani accompanied him on the way to the city airport.
Dutt landed in Mumbai at around 11:30 am went straight to the Siddhivinayak temple and then to Bada Kabristan to seek blessings at his mother's grave.
He is likely to address the press after reaching his home at Pali Hill.
Maharashtra Minister of State for Home Ram Shinde on Wednesday said the actor will be completing his jail term on February 25, after counting in the eight months and 16 days he earned as exemption or remission on account of good behaviour in prison.
On the eve of his release after serving 42 months behind bars, a public interest litigation was filed in the Bombay High Court on Wednesday, challenging his early release on remission, alleging that the 56-year-old actor was getting preferential treatment.
Dutt was lodged in the Yerwada prison in May 2013 to undergo the remainder of his sentence after being convicted for illegal possession of arms under the Arms Act.
Embroiled in heated debates over his frequent parole and furlough leave in many quarters, the actor, however, consistently participated in the programmes on internal circuit jail radio, prison sources said.
The Bollywood star was arrested on April 19, 1993, for possession and destruction of an AK-56 rifle, which was a part of cache of arms and explosives which landed in India prior to the serial blasts of March 1993.
(With agency inputs)
# It is a day of freedom for me after 23 years today; I miss my father a lot, says Sanjay Dutt
# Its still not sinking in, it feels like I am on furlough.
# To be free is the most amazing feeling.
# I am proud to be an Indian, that is why I kissed the earth and saluted the tricolour when I came out.
# She is not my better half, but my best half. Manyata is my strength.
# I gave the money earned Rs. 440 in the jail to my wife, as a good husband.
# Salman Khan is like my younger brother. I pray that he becomes a bigger star.
# I would request the press, I am convicted in the arms act, not in the bomb blasts case. Please don't portray me as a terrorist.
# "I am not a terrorist. I was convicted in the Arms Act, not in the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts case. I request that this is reported properly in future," Sanjay Dutt said.
(With ANI inputs)
The actor performed a pooja after he reached home to seek his late father Sunil Dutt's blessings.
#SanjayDutt performs puja to seek his father #SunilDutt 's blessings right after his arrival at home. pic.twitter.com/2OvwEGnYk1
— Spice (@SpiceSocial1) February 25, 2016
Posters welcoming actor Sanjay Dutt.
Posters put up outside Actor Sanjay Dutt's residence in Pali Hill (Bandra, Mumbai) pic.twitter.com/0LOTmkZ1ef
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 25, 2016
Fans of the actor have been celebrating his homecoming.
Celebrations outside #SanjayDutt 's residence in Pali Hill(Mumbai) pic.twitter.com/RAxgQAoXdc
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 25, 2016
Actor Sanjay Dutt has reached his home in Mumbai.
Sanjay Dutt's sister Priya Dutt said it was a very emotional day for the family. Read more here.
The 56-year-old actor then headed towards Marine Lines to seek blessings at his mother Nargis Dutt's grave.
Sanjay Dutt in Mumbai's Marine Lines to visit grave of his mother Nargis pic.twitter.com/9fI0QDjmHo
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 25, 2016
A huge crowd gathered to catch a glimpse of the actor when he came to seek blessings at the Siddhivinayak Temple after his release from prison.
Sanjay Dutt leaves from Mumbai's Siddhivinayak Temple pic.twitter.com/7P1IO30LyW
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 25, 2016
Fans gather as Sanjay Dutt reaches Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai pic.twitter.com/MFwiYSv9pG
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 25, 2016
Sanjay Dutt arrives at Mumbai Airport
Soon after Dutt's release, several Bollywood celebs and co-stars including Juhi Chawla, Gracy Singh, Mahesh Bhatt and Subhash Ghai wished him peace and welcomed his return to the industry with a hope that he will reach great career heights in his second innings in B-town.
Welcome back Sanjay ..!! Very very happy for all the Dutt family ..!!! Wish Sanjay all Gods blessings .....!!
— Juhi Chawla (@iam_juhi) February 25, 2016
Lord, I'm one, Lord, I'm two, Lord,
— Mahesh Bhatt (@MaheshNBhatt) February 25, 2016
I'm three, Lord, I'm four,
Lord I'm five hundred miles away from home
(NAAM) pic.twitter.com/R4AVPaWHsW
Welcome HOME Sanjay Dutt. We missed you. Love.:)
— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPkher) February 25, 2016
Welcome back to the grind! Make some memorable movies now! pic.twitter.com/xjubwdlPGG
— Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) February 25, 2016
There is no easy walk to freedom, my friends: Sanjay Dutt at Pune Airport after his release from Pune's Yerwada Jail pic.twitter.com/r2FLyWybqR
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 25, 2016
Here is how Dutts's daughter Trishala expresed her happiness ahead of Sanjay Dutt's release from Yerwada jail.
Watch: Before leaving, Dutt took a moment to look back, bow down and salute the jail.
WATCH: Actor Sanjay Dutt released from Pune's Yerwada Central Jail in the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts casehttps://t.co/Rt5kH3VD4I
— ANI (@ANI_news) February 25, 2016
Actor Sanjay Dutt reaches Pune Airport after release from Pune's Yerwada Jail.
