Sanjay Dutt, likely to be released on Thursday

MUMBAI: The final legal hurdle for actor Sanjay Dutt's release from jail was cleared on Wednesday with Special TADA judge Pramod Kode, issuing the release orders for the Bollywood star along with 16 others who were granted bail by the Supreme Court.
   
However, the actor may have to spend the night in jail as it is unlikely that the order would reach the Pune jail before late evening on Wednesday.
 
Dutt, sentenced to six years rigorous imprisonment under the Arms Act for illegal weapons possession by the TADA court, has been lodged in the Yerwada jail since October 22, while others are kept in jails across Maharashtra.
   
The actor and 16 others were granted bail by the Supreme Court on Tuesday.
   
Judge Kode said that the bail amount and surety for Dutt and the 16 others will be the same as that furnished by them during the course of the trial.
   
Dutt, had paid Rs 5 lakh as bail and a surety of the same amount when he was granted bail for the first time by the Supreme Court in 1995. He will have to furnish the same amount this time.
   
Dutt's lawyers led by Satish Maneshinde are expected to complete the court formalities, get the order and travel to Pune to secure the actor's release.
   
However, it is unlikely that the actor would be released on Wednesday as jail inmates are not released after sunset.
   
Earlier, when granted interim bail by the Supreme Court, Dutt had been released early in the morning after the formalities were completed.