A major controversy has erupted over granting parole to actor Sanjay Dutt which will allow him to leave prison for a second time in a little over a month with protests outside Pune's Yerawada Jail forcing the government to order an inquiry.
Pune Divisional Commissioner Prabhakar Deshmukh had yesterday granted parole to the actor, undergoing the remainder of his five-year jail term for possessing illegal firearms, part of a cache of weapons meant to be used during the 1993 blasts, on the recommendation of prison authorities.
Dutt, 53, had availed of a month-long leave of furlough on medical grounds and was back in jail on October 30.
Dutt had reportedly cited his wife Manyata's illness for seeking parole this time.
However, newspapers this morning published photographs of Manyata purportedly attending the screening of a film as also a celebrity birthday party, raising questions about Dutt's claim regarding her illness.
Taking note of the controversy, Maharashtra Home Minister R R Patil has ordered an inquiry to ascertain the basis for granting parole to the Bollywood star.
"The parole has been granted by the Divisional Commissioner. We are looking into the matter and have sought documents which formed the basis for allowing his release on parole," Patil told reporters.
Angry at alleged "favouritism" being shown towards Dutt, activists of the Republican Party of India staged a demonstration in front of the Yerawada Central Jail.
Waving black flags and shouting slogans condemning the prison administration for showing "undue favours" to the Bollywood star, they demanded cancellation of parole.
"We will organise a jail bharo agitation in Maharashtra if Dutt is granted undue relief and given special treatment as he is supposed to be treated the same way like other convicts," a spokesman for the demonstrators said.
