Actor Sanjay Dutt seeks parole extension

Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt, currently out of jail on parole for a fortnight, has sought an extension of parole on medical grounds, official sources said Sunday.

Dutt, 53, was granted parole from the Yerawada Central Jail Oct 1 to get medical treatment for certain unspecified illnesses.

His parole period ends Monday and he has sought another fortnight's extension. The application is under consideration and a decision is likely to be taken shortly, the sources said.

A parole is a conditional release of a prisoner for a limited period for a specific purpose and is strictly governed under Indian jail laws.

"It does not imply commutation of the sentence or amnesty and is purely decided as per individual cases at the discretion of the concerned authorities," criminal lawyer J.P. Mishra told IANS.

Dutt is serving a 42-month sentence for his role in the March 1993 Mumbai serial bombings of March 1993.

He was convicted by a Special TADA Court for illegal possession of a pistol and an AK-47 rifle.

In March, the Supreme Court upheld his conviction under the Arms Act and reduced his sentence from six years, awarded by a lower court, to five years.

He has already served one-and-a-half years behind bars during trial. He returned to Mumbai's Arthur Road Central Jail May 16 to serve the remaining 42 months in prison.

Later, on security grounds, he was shifted to Yerawada Central Jail here.