Mumbai : The Bombay high court Friday asked the Maharashtra government whether it follows the same rules for other jail inmates as it is giving parole or furlough to Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt.
The division bench of justices S C Dharmadhikari and Bharati Dangre directed the state to submit an affidavit detailing the steps followed while granting parole and furlough to an “average” inmate.
“You can show us that you follow the same procedure for all inmates….Else we’ll have to issue directions,” the judges said, adjourning the hearing to February 1.
A public interest litigation has questioned the “frequent” parole or furlough allowed to Dutt, sentenced to five years in jail in the case, got, and his early release from prison in 2016.
The Maharastra advocate general Ashutosh Kumbhakoni told the court that it can justify “every single minute” of parole or furlough granted to actor Sanjay Dutt, who was in jail in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case.
“Not even for a single minute or second was Dutt out of jail in breach of law. We can account for every single minute that he was permitted to stay out of jail”.
Parole is granted for special reasons, while prisoners are entitled to furlough as a matter of right.
