POLITICS over actor Sanjay Dutt’s parole extension has started. Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena have targeted the Congress party’s preferential treatment to Dutt.
Sanjay Dutt (53) had initially requested for a further one-month extension on his parole on the ground of his wife Manayata’s illness. Prabhakar Deshmukh, divisional commissioner, Pune approved Dutt’s application on Tuesday for one more month. Speaking to media Deshmukh said, “The extension has been given to the Dutt after the police submitted a medical report of his wife Manayata, who is under treatment.”
The parole of actor who has been convicted in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case, has given a golden opportunity to the opposition parties-BJP and Shivsena- to target the Congress.
Earlier speaking to media in Kolhapur, Vinod Tawde, the BJP leader had alleged that the state government of giving preferential treatment to Sanjay Dutt only because his sister ( Priya Dutt ) is a Congress MP.
Now, drawing equals between Dutt and Malegaon blast accused Sadhvi Pragya and Col Purohit Shivsena President Uddhav Thackeray said ” Law should be equal for all, why different set of rules for Sadhvi Pragya, Col. Purohit and Sanjay Dutt ?
A PIL has also been filed in the Bombay High Court on Tuesday challenging the extension for bollywood actor. The petitioner Tushar Pabale alleged that the Superintendent of Yerawada Jail and Pune Divisional Commissioner have abused their powers in extending parole.
Dutt who is currently serving the remainder of five-year sentence awarded by Supreme Court came out on parole on December 21, 2013. He was supposed to go back into Yerawada jail on January 21, but his parole was extended to February 21. He then asked for a further extension to be by his wife’s side.
According to rules, a convict gets a maximum of 90-days parole, of which Dutt has finished 60 days.
Authority Speaks
Justifying their side Maharashtra Home Minister RR Patil said that the extension is in accordance with the jail manual. Patil added that if a family member of a convict is critically ill, the extension plea can be considered on humanitarian grounds. However, Patil also said that the state government is thinking of deducting the parole period from Dutt’s total tenure of punishment.