Sanjay Dutt to be released on Feb 27

Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt, convicted in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case and currently lodged in Pune's high-security Yerawada Central Prison, will walk out of jail on February 27 after the Maharashtra government cleared a proposal for remission of his sentence, a few days ahead of his official date of release.

Dutt is being given remission as per the jail manual after clearance from the Home department, a senior official said.

Minister for State (Home) Ranjit Patil signed the file allowing Dutt's release, without penalising him for reporting late from his furlough in January 2015.

Dutt was sentenced to five-year imprisonment after he was convicted for possessing an illegal weapon, part of the cache meant to be used during the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts in which 257 people were killed.

The 56-year-old actor was 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.

Dutt is now completing the remaining prison term of 42 months.

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