PIL complaining about parole, furlough to Sanjay Dutt rejected

Pradeep Bhalekar filed a petition complaining that the Bollywood actor was given preferential treatment by the jail authorities in receiving paroles and furlough leaves.

The Bombay high court division bench consisting of Justice SC Dharmadhikari and Justice Bharati Dangre on Thursday dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by a petitioner Pradeep Bhalekar, claiming that actor Sanjay Dutt was released from jail before the completion of the five-year term. Bhalekar’s petition also complained that the Bollywood actor was given preferential treatment by the jail authorities in receiving paroles and furlough leaves. The petitioner alleged that the entire conduct of the jail authorities smacked of favouritism and arbitrariness as Dutt’s applications for the leaves were taken up out of turn when on the other hand, the applications of several other prisoners were kept pending.

Dutt was convicted for his role in the March 1992 Mumbai serial bombings case by the designated TADA court. (HT/File)

The petitioner also tried to highlight the “disparity and inequality” in treatment to prisoners by the prison authorities stating that the actor was granted parole leave of 90 days and two furlough leaves of 28 days each, allowing him to spend 146 days out of the jail. However, such allowances were not given to other less influential prisoners.

But the bench did not find any merits in the PIL. While rejecting the PIL, it said, “There is absolutely no material to substantiate the bald allegations made in the PIL and across the bar by the advocate for the PIL petitioner.”

Dutt was convicted for his role in the March 1992 Mumbai serial bombings case by the designated TADA court.