Maharashtra Governor rejects plea to cancel Sanjay Dutt's jail term

Maharashtra Governor Ch.Vidyasagar Rao has rejected an appeal to cancel the remainder of actor Sanjay Dutt's jail term.

Dutt was convicted for his role in the 1993 blasts case under the Arms Act for possessing weapons.

He was first jailed in 1996 and spent 18 months behind bars before walking out on bail.

In 2013, the Supreme Court sentenced him to five years in prison for the crime.

The 18 months that Dutt had earlier spent in jail were taken into account and he was to spend another 42 months. After the imprisonment in May 2013, Dutt has spent nearly 30 months in prison already and is due to walk out a free man in February 2016.

After he was sent to Yerwada jail in May 2013, Dutt has been out on parole twice and an equal number of times on furlough.

In October 2013, he was out on furlough for 14 days, which was extended by a fortnight.

In January 2014, a 30-day parole was extended by another 30 days. In December 2014, he was granted a 14-day furlough. Since August 27, 2015, he is again out on a 14-day furlough.

While turning down the plea for pardon, the Governor followed the home department's advice, which said that as the highest court of the land had convicted him,granting pardon would set a bad precedent.