Maharashtra Government prepares to defend the early release of Sanjay Dutt in Bombay HC

Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt, who was sentenced to five years in jail for his role in the 1993 blasts case for illegal possession and destruction of an AK-56 rifle, was released in February 2016, on account of his good behaviour.

Questioning this, The Bombay high court on Monday asked the Maharashtra government to justify its decision to release actor Sanjay Dutt from Yerawada Central Prison eight months early. A bench of justices RM Savant and Sadhana Jadhav have demanded the government to file an affidavit detailing the parameters considered and the procedures followed before concluding that Dutt deserved any leniency.

The Maharashtra Government is now gearing up to defend their decision in Bombay High Court. "He has been treated as an ordinary prisoner all along," said a government official and further said that not a single day of special remission has been awarded to him.

"The prison department has already submitted the affidavit on the actor's release and the rest of the details will be provided by us,” added the source before signing off.