Sanjay Dutt Set To Be Released Early From Jail

24 January 2016.

ممبئی: بالی ووڈ منا بھائی سنجے دت ان دنوں غیرقانونی اسلحہ رکھنے کے جرم میں سزا کاٹ رہے ہیں لیکن انہوں نے جیل میں بھی کمانا شروع کردیا ہے۔

بالی ووڈ اداکار سنجے دت 1993 میں ممبئی حملوں اور غیر قانونی اسلحہ رکھنے کے جرم میں مئی 2013 سے پونے کی یارواڈا جیل میں ساڑھے 3 سال کی قید کاٹ رہے ہیں جہاں  انہوں نے قید میں بھی پیسے کمانا شروع کردیئے ہیں۔

میڈیا رپورٹس کے مطابق بالی ووڈ  کے منا بھائی پونے کی جیل میں روزمرہ ورزش کے ساتھ  ساتھ قیدیوں میں مسکراہٹیں بکھیرنے میں مصروف ہیں لیکن وہیں انہیں کاغذ کے لفافے بنانے کا کام بھی دیا گیا ہے جس کے لیے انہیں روزانہ 45 روپے اجرت دی جاتی ہے جب کہ سنجے دت جیل کے کمیونٹی ریڈیو پرآرجے  کے بھی فرائض سرانجام دے رہے ہیں۔

واضح رہے کہ بالی ووڈ اداکارسنجے دت کے اچھے رویے کے باعث جیل میں کاٹی جانے والی سزا میں 3 ماہ کی کمی کردی گئی ہے جس کے بعد وہ 25 فروری کو رہا ہوجائیں گے۔

Sanjay Dutt to make paper bags in jail, will earn Rs. 25 a day:

Dutt would be treated as an unskilled worker.

PUNE:  Jailed Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt will be trained to make paper bags at the Yerawada Central Jail, official sources said on Saturday. He is likely to be paid Rs. 25 per day.

Dutt is undergoing his 42-month prison sentence after being linked to the 1993 Mumbai terror attack. It is his second stint in the jail.

A jail official said the actor will be trained to make high quality, heavy duty paper bags with a capacity of 6-8 kg, which are now gradually replacing plastic bags in the market.

He is likely to get a remuneration of Rs. 25 a day for this laborious work. However, depending on his skills and efficiency, the payment could gradually go up to Rs. 40 per day.

The official indicated that in view of security concerns, Dutt will undertake this task indoors, inside his maximum security enclosure.

Dutt had expressed a desire to carry out heavy duty work in the prison which would help him keep fit, but this was declined on security grounds.

The actor was sentenced to five years in prison for illegal arms possession dating back to the 1993 Mumbai bombings.

“Convicts who are found guilty under offences of Arms Act are not sent to open jails,” a senior jail official told.

Dutt would be expected to work six days a week and receive training in one of carpentry, cooking in the jail kitchen, carpet-making, blacksmith’s work or shoemaking.

In line with current Indian penal policies, Dutt would be treated as an unskilled worker for the first six months of his jail sentence.

Sanjay Dutt's annual earnings to fall from Rs 20 crore to Rs 10,000 :

Of all the roles that he essayed in his long and illustrious career in Bollywood, that of a jail convict was perhaps one that Sanjay Dutt least wanted to enact in real life. The superstar’s conviction under the Arms Act has brought about a dramatic reversal in his fortunes: Dutt (53), who has an average asking price of Rs 3-5 crore per film, will now earn approximately Rs 25 per day for the first six months of his stay in prison. This would make the millionaire’s earnings decelerate to almost a screeching halt, to Rs 650 a month.

Dutt, apart from having several films on the floor, was also endorsing several products. Taken together, these ratcheted up his annual income to a dizzying Rs 20 crore. In sharp contrast, Dutt’s yearly income in course of his jail stay won’t be over Rs 10,000 — and this, after he sweats it out, labouring in the small-scale unit in the central jail. 

Life in prison:

The first in many changes that the superstar will have to grimace through is a change of garb — a far cry from the designer wear he is accustomed to, Dutt will have to don pajamas, cap and shirt.

 The man who is hailed as ‘Sanju baba’ will now be reduced to a token number, his new identity in jail. On day one of his prison stay, he will be given two blankets, a handmade mat, a pillow and sheet, which he must use to make his bed, on the floor. He will also be given training in any of the following — carpentry, cooking in the jail kitchen, carpet making, bakery, blacksmith’s work, weaving or making shoes and chappals in the leather workshop.

In the first six months of his stay, he will be treated as an unskilled worker and will be paid Rs 25 daily; he will be paid only six days a week. A review meeting of senior jail officials will decide after six months if Dutt has acquired sufficient skill in the chosen field, after which he would be treated as a semi-skilled worker and his daily earnings will go up from Rs 25 to Rs 35. 

When he finally masters the work after a few months, he will be reviewed once again by senior jail officials, and paid Rs 40 per day, being placed in the skilled category. Senior jail officials at Yerwada revealed that during his last stay in the jail, Dutt had made a wooden chair, and that he was quite fond of carpentry.

No fine dining :

During his prison stay, Dutt will be entitled to an allowance of Rs 1,500 per month from his family, which he can use to purchase essentials like toiletries or snacks from the prison canteen. He will also be allowed to meet a maximum of five members of his family at a time, for 20 minutes, once a month. His activities on Sunday will include drudgework like washing his own clothes, in addition to other chores that jail officials give him.

Hard day’s work:

Dutt’s day will start at 8 am in the factory, after his prayers and tea at 7 am. Between 11.30 am and 12 noon he will be served food in the factory area. He will continue to work till 4 pm. Between 4 pm and 6 pm he will be allowed to read books and newspapers, and have his dinner. 

He will then have to retreat to his cell, to be locked up till the routine starts again the following day.
A senior jail official ruled out the possibility of Dutt being put under the open jail system, saying, “Convicts who are found guilty under offences of Arms Act are not sent to open jails.”

Ray of hope:

Dutt may not have to spend the whole of his remaining term of three-and-a-half years in jail. According to senior jail officials, the actor might get some reprieve for good behaviour, which means his time may be commuted by seven days each month — of which four days is given for doing good work and another three days is given for good behaviour. This means Dutt will be entitled to 84 days of remission every year. The actual number of remission received will be then deducted from the actual conviction period and the convict will be set free.

I have to be strong: Dutt 

“I have already suffered for 20 years and been in jail for 18 months. If they want me to suffer more I have to be strong. I am heart broken because today along with me, my 3 children and my wife and my family will undergo the punishment.

I have always respected the judicial system and will continue to do so, even with tears in my eyes. I am going to complete all my films and won’t let anyone down. I am overwhelmed by the support of my fans the industry people, the media and all the well-wishers. They have always stood by me and supported me. I know in my heart that I have always been a good human being, respected the system and always been loyal to my country. 

My family is very emotional right now and I have to be strong for them. I am shattered and in emotional distress. I am sorry I can't come down and meet you all. God is great and he will guide me through this.”

- Dutt’s official statement

Justice Katju tried getting Sanjay Dutt out of jail earlier than schedule:

The former Supreme Court judge and chairman of Press council Markanday Katju's yet another attempt to help actor Sanjay Dutt walk out of jail earlier than schedule was turned down by the President last week.

Justice Katju had sought commutation of Dutt's sentence on the grounds that he through his movies has contributed to social causes and should get benefit of it. The request, however, was first turned down by the governor of Maharashtra and then by the President.

However, if the plea would have been accepted Dutt — who is scheduled to walk out of jail on February 25 — would have been released from the jail by now.