RPI activists protest parole to Sanjay Dutt

Sanjay Dutt made a plea for temporary release from the jail stating his wife Maanyata was unwell.

Activists of Republican Party of India (RPI) today staged a demonstration in front of Yerawada Jail here,protesting the administration’s decision to release actor Sanjay Dutt on parole for a month.

Dutt,convicted under the Arms Act for illegal possession of weapons in the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts case,had made a plea for temporary release from the jail stating his wife Maanyata was unwell.

Pune Divisional Commissioner Prabhakar Deshmukh granted parole to the actor on recommendation of prison authorities yesterday.

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The RPI workers waved black flags and raised slogans condemning prison administration for showing “undue favours” to the Bollywood star and according him a special treatment. They also demanded cancellation of parole to him.

“We will organise a jail bharo agitation in Maharashtra if Dutt is granted undue relief and given special treatment as he is supposed to be treated the same way like other convicts,” a spokesman of the demonstrators said.

The 53-year-old,undergoing the remainder of his five-year jail term,had availed of a month-long leave of furlough in October on medical grounds.

The day of Dutt’s expected release on parole was not yet decided,jail sources said.

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The actor was shifted to the central prison here from Mumbai’s Arthur Road Jail in May this year.

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