Centre seeks Maha Govt opinion on reducing Sanjay Dutt’s jail term

Zee Media Bureau/Resham Sengar

New Delhi: The Home Ministry has sought the opinion Maharashtra Government to reduce the jail sentence of Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt who is serving a 42-month sentence in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case. According to press reports, the centre has forwarded an application to the state government, on an appeal by Justice Markandeya Katju to the President, requesting the veteran actor’s jail term to be shortened. Sources called it part of routine procedure that is followed for such appeals. Meanwhile, Dutt is staying with his family in Mumbai after being granted a 14-day extended leave from prison on medical grounds. The 53-year-old had left the Yerawada jail on October 1. Dutt was sentenced to five years in jail by the Supreme Court of India in March 2013 for illegally possessing arms during the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts which killed over 250 civilians. The actor had already served 18 months in jail after which he was released on bail in 2007. He is currently serving the remaining 42-month jail term in the Yerawada jail. (With agency inputs)