Maharashtra Governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao has rejected a plea seeking pardon for bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt, who is serving a jail term for his involvement in the 1993 Mumbai blasts, reported a leading tabloid.
Maharashtra Governor Ch. Vidyasagar Rao has rejected plea seeking pardon for Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt, who is serving jail term for his involvement in the 1993 Mumbai blasts, reports a leading tabloid.
According to the report, the governor rejected the appeal two and a half year after former SC judge Markandey Katju made a plea seeking pardon for Sanjay Dutt. Katju had also written a letter to President Pranab Mukherjee, the then PM Manmohan Singh and Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde.
The 55-year-old actor is serving the remainder of his five-year jail term for possessing illegal firearms that was part of a cache of weapons meant to be used during the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts. These serial blasts killed over 250 people in Mumbai.
Dutt has already spent nearly 30 months behind the bars and due to walk free in February 2016.
Quoting sources, the report said that while turning down the bail plea the Governor followed home department's advice which was in favour in rejecting it. The home department also reportedly said that granting pardon would set a bad precedent.
Arguing that the Supreme Court had held that Sanjay Dutt was not involved in the 1993 bomb blasts, and he is not a terrorist, Katju had said, "The only charge on which Sanjay Dutt has been found guilty is the charge of having in his possession a prohibited weapon. However, regarding this charge the Supreme Court has observed that Sanjay Dutt was keeping the weapon not for terrorist activity but for self defence. This being the verdict of the Supreme Court it has be accepted."
Katju had also argued "During the 20 years period when the case was going on there is no allegation that he did anything wrong, rather he did good social work. Considering all these factors I am of the definite opinion that Sanjay Dutt should be granted pardon."
Dutt is now out of jail on 30 days parole since August 27. Earlier, the actor was on parole six months ago in December 2014, as he wanted to bring in the New Year with his family. After his parole ended, he sought a furlough which was eventually denied by prison authorities.
In December 2014, the actor had overstayed his furlough by two days. It was said then that according to the prison manual, Dutt's remaining furlough days could be slashed by 10 days due to overstaying. For one day's overstaying, five days are cut from the convict's future furlough.
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 "Maharashtra Governor rejects bollywood actors Sanjay Dutt's plea to cancel jail term: Report")
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