Explain criteria that determined 'good conduct', remission for Sanjay Dutt: Bombay HC to state govt

The Bombay High Court on Thursday asked the Maharashtra government to explain the criteria behind ascertaining good conduct for granting remission to actor Sanjay Dutt, an accused in the 1993 Bombay blasts case.

Questioning the state's justification of not giving special treatment to Sanjay Dutt, the court asked, "Within two months from his surrender on May 16, 2013, how could authorities allow his parole and furlough leave application concurrently."

The court also observed that usually only one is given to the convict. "Did the Divisional Commissioner not inquire about the applications?" the court asked.

The Bombay High Court has given further two weeks time to the state government to explain its chronology of leave granted to Sanjay Dutt, and also for them to explain criteria behind ascertaining good conduct for granting remission in sentence.

On July 17, the Maharashtra government presented an affidavit at the Bombay High Court justifying its decision of early release of Sanjay Dutt.

The affidavit was filed after the Bombay High Court, on June 12, asked the Maharashtra government to justify its decision to release actor Sanjay Dutt from prison eight months early in the 1993 serial blasts case.

Dutt was let out in February 2016, eight months early, on account of his good conduct while in Pune's Yerwada prison.

The total parole leave mentioned in the affidavit is four months and furlough leave is one month and 14 days.

Dutt was sentenced to five years in jail for his role in the 1993 blasts case. He served his sentence in Yerawada Central Prison in Pune for illegal possession and destruction of an AK-56 rifle.

On July, 2007, the TADA court in Mumbai sentenced him to six years' rigorous imprisonment under the Arms Act and imposed a fine of Rs. 25,000.

In 2013, the Supreme Court upheld the ruling, but reduced the sentence to five years following which he surrendered to serve the remainder of his sentence.

(With inputs from our Correspondent Mustafa Plumber)