An unshaven and tired-looking Sanjay Dutt and his associate Yusuf Nulwala were shifted out of Arthur Road jail in Byculla on Thursday evening.
‘Security threats from Salem, Dossa forced actor out’
MUMBAI: An unshaven and tired-looking Sanjay Dutt and his associate Yusuf Nulwala were shifted out of Arthur Road jail in Byculla on Thursday evening. “I have faith in the judiciary. I love my country. Please pray for me,” Dutt told mediapersons before his van sped towards the Yerawada Central Prison in Pune.
There were reports of lathicharge outside the Yerawada jail as thousands of Dutt’s fans had gathered there.
Earlier, the actor’s departure from the Mumbai prison became imminent after jail authorities submitted a report to the Tada court saying the Arthur Road jail is meant only for undertrials and that the actor faced a threat from blasts accused Abu Salem and Mustafa Dossa.
Sources say jail authorities were also uncomfortable with Dutt’s interaction with Salem on his first day behind bars, and this could be another reason for the transfer.
Special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam said Arthur Road jail was not equipped to provide work to those convicted for rigorous imprisonment. Nikam said no special case can be made for Dutt since 95 of the 100 accused convicted in the 1993 blasts case had already been shifted to other prisons across Maharashtra. The actor’s lawyer, Farhana Shah, finally withdrew the application seeking permission to keep the actor in a Mumbai jail.
At 7.05pm, a police van followed by police jeeps dashed out of the gates of the jail. Mediapersons gathered around the van, only to realise it was a false alarm. Five minutes later, another van came out of the iron gates. This time, they found Dutt inside, clad in jeans and white shirt. Two jeeps piloted the van and another two followed it. The convoy sped off towards Mumbai Central in another attempt to fool the media before finally turning towards the Eastern Express Highway.
Initially, the 48-year-old actor will be asked to clean his cell. He will also help in cooking meals for the 1,000 prisoners. Later, he could be asked to do carpentry, farming or work on handlooms. The actor will wear the jail uniform— a striped white shirt, white pyjamas and a white cap.
The 12 death row convicts in the blasts case are also lodged at Yerawada.
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