Maharashtra government rejects Sanjay Dutt's application seeking extension of furlough; actor to surrender today

Maharashtra government on Saturday rejected bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt's application seeking extension of furlough.

Dutt's lawyer Rizwan Merchant said,"Actor's application has been rejected and he will surrender today."

Reacting to Dutt's application, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, "Our government will neither favour anyone nor will do any kind of discrimination. Dutt's furlough will only be granted as per rules, If it is not as per law, will not be granted at all.

Dutt's furlough ended on Thursday, but due to lack of coordination between Pune jail authorities and Mumbai Police over taking a decision on his plea for prison leave extension, the actor spent two more days at home.

Annually, convicts lodged in jails can get 14 days furlough, which can be extended by another 14 days, while they are entitled to 90 days of parole. The purpose of parole and furlough is to mitigate the suffering which a convict's incarceration causes to his or her family.

Earlier in October 2013, Dutt had been granted furlough for 28 days on health grounds, followed by a similar leave in December 2013 to tend to his "ailing" wife Manyata. However, a controversy had erupted when newspapers published photographs of Manyata reportedly attending a film screening, raising doubts about the actor's claim of his wife's illness.

The 55-year-old 'Munnabhai MBBS' star, convicted for illegal possession of an AK-56 rifle and its destruction and lodged in Pune's Yerwada Jail, was released on a 14-day furlough on December 24. He has sought an extension of his leave, although the authorities concerned are yet to take a decision on his plea.