HC asks why Manyata’s ex-husband not given bail

Asking why Mehraj Shaikh,former husband of Manyata Dutt (actor Sanjay Dutt’s wife),should be kept in jail for bailable offences,the Bombay High Court on Wednesday sought information on undertrial prisoners booked for minor offences. According to Additional Public Prosecutor Mankunwar Deshmukh,the court today asked as to why the government has to spend on their food and expenses when they can be released on bail. The court has now sought the information from Arthur Road prison authorities within a week’s time on how many undertrial prisoners have been arrested in bailable offences.

Division bench of Justice B H Marlapalle and Justice Anup Mohta also directed that Mehraj —booked for sending lewd SMSes to two actresses last year — be produced before Magistrate’s court on Thursday,so that he can be released on bail. The High Court will hear the case on August 4.