Dutt reaches Yerawada Jail in Pune

Pune, Aug 2 (UNI) Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt reached Yerawada Jail here tonight to serve a six year term of rigorous imprisonment (RI) for keeping illegal weapons.

Dutt arrived at 2235 hrs from Mumbai's Arthur Road Jail under heavy police escort. He left the Metropolis at around 1830 hrs.

Looking tired and dispirited, he was immediately taken inside the compound.

On the way to Pune, Sanjay's girlfriend Maanyata and his other friends followed the police escort to give him moral support.

Before his arrival, the police resorted to a mild lathi charge to disperse a huge crowd, which had gathered to catch a glimpse the actor. Nobody was injured in the incident. The crowd was shouting slogans 'Munnabhai Zindabad'.

Dutt was acquitted of the TADA charges, but convicted and sentenced to 6 years RI under the Arms Act for keeping an AK-56 rifle and a 9 mm pistol at his residence, without legal authorisation, by Special TADA Judge P D Kode on July 31.

Earlier, Yerawada Jail Superintendent Rajendra Dhamne told reporters that the star would be treated like any other ordinary criminal serving a term, and no special facilities will be given to him as per the jail manual.

He said it is the Jail Superintendent's discretion to decide on the barrack or other minimal requirements that are to be given, if there are no other specific court orders in the matter.

Dutt will have to work in the jail that includes cleaning, cooking and gardening, he said.

Around 12 persons, including Yakoob Memon, are already lodged in the jail, after being awarded the death sentence by TADA Judge P D Kode for their involvement in the '93 Mumbai bomb blasts case.

Their sentence is subject to Supreme Court's confirmation. Three other women convicts in the case serving a five year term are also lodged in the jail. Dutt will be the 16th convict in the case, Mr Dhamne said.

There are 35 other convicts on death row in the state who are also lodged in the Yerawada Jail. Even fake stamp paper prime accused Abdul Karim Telgi is lodged in the jail.

In the past, the Yerawada Jail had high profile inmates like Mahatma Gandhi in 1930 to criminals like the ''Bombay Strangler'' Raman Raghav, who committed serial murders im Mumbi during the 1970s.

UNI