Republican Party of India (RPI) activists on Saturday staged protests outside the Yerawada Jail in Pune, Maharashtra, against the release of actor Sanjay Dutt on parole for a month to spend time with his reportedly ill wife Maanayata.
Dutt is currently lodged in Pune's Yerawada Jail for his role in the 1993 serial bomb blasts in Mumbai.
Yogesh Desai, the Jail Superintendent of Yerawada Jail, said Dutt had submitted an application for the present parole along with his request for a medical furlough in October.
Dutt is likely to return to his Mumbai residence on Saturday. The 53-year-old actor was sent to jail in May to serve the remaining 42 months of his five-year sentence after being convicted of possessing illegal firearms in the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts case.
He had earlier been granted a 14-day medical furlough at the beginning of October, which was extended further by another 14 days on health grounds. He was effectively at his Mumbai home all of October and returned to the prison on October 30.
Dutt has claimed that Maanayata is unwell, but on Thursday,she was seen at two separate events. She was present at actor Shahid Kapoor's special screening of his latest movie "R.... Rajkumar" at a studio in Juhu.
She later attended Krishika Lulla's birthday party.
Divisional Commissioner Prabhakar Deshmukh confirmed the development on Friday.
"The parole application was recommended by an ACP in Mumbai Police and the jail superintendent of Yerawada prison. Considering these recommendations, I have approved Dutt's parole for 30 days. The reason for seeking leave was his wife's illness," he said.
Reacting to this development, advocate Abha Singh said: "Old Zaibunissa Kazi and Sanjay Dutt went to jail together.Yet, she has not been granted parole, but he (Dutt) has been granted parole repeatedly."
Social and civil rights activist Annie Raja said: "There are thousands in jails who never get to meet their loved ones.This is an injustice to those people.
