Maharashtra: Yerwada prison officials likely to held guilty in Dutt's furlough case

The report submitted to the Maharashtra government has found officials from the Yerwada prison department guilty of dereliction of duty while dealing with the allotment of furlough to Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt last month.

The report submitted to the Maharashtra government has found officials from the Yerwada prison department guilty of dereliction of duty while dealing with the allotment of furlough to Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt last month.

Coming-out-of-Pune-s-Yerwada-jail-after-taking-fourteen-days-parole-Sanjay-Dutt-said-he-had-lost-18-kilos-since-the-day-he-went-behind-the-bars--Photo-by-Prodip-Guha-Hindustan-Times

According to the sources in the government, the officials from the prison department at the Yerwada jail in Pune are expected to be held guilty.

Home department had ordered an inquiry in the goof-up in the furlough granted to the actor. Inspector General of Prison Meeran Borwankar was asked to inquire with terms of reference including why the actor remained out of the jail after completing the furlough period and why the letter sent to the Mumbai police did not reach in time, among others.

Ram Shinde, the minister of state for home (rural), said has received the report of the inquiry and the decision on fixing the responsibility will be taken next week.

"Our department is examining the report in which the lapses by the official concerned have been revealed. According to the report, the letter sent by the prison officials to the local police station in Bandra for their NOC did not reach in time. There was a deliberate attempt by few officials resulting in the loopholes. Few officials from the police department too are believed to be involved in the goof-up," Shinde said.

Shinde added that by next week the department would be able to fix the responsibility on the officials concerned. "There was no need for the actor to stay out of the jail after completing his furlough on January 7. Dutt was waiting outside the jail to report back on the completion of his exemption, but the officials failed to take further action. Similarly, the officials had failed to act upon the application of the furlough, which is expected to be disposed of in 45 days, but was disposed of in 113 days," he said

The minister said that overstaying of two days on furlough exemption will prompt to reduction of the four days in the Dutt's next furlough.