Sanjay Dutt to walk free in March

Actor Sanjay Dutt, who is serving prison term of 42 months at Pune's Yerwada Jail, may walk free in March next year after completion of his sentence.

According to media reports quoting official sources, Dutt is expected to be released on March 7.

Dutt was convicted for his role in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts. He was found guilty of acquiring illegal arms from those involved in the blasts and was sentenced to five years in jail. He surrendered on May 16, 2013 and was shifted to Yerwada Jail a week later.

However, since then, he has been out of jail on furloughs on multiple occasions which also invited a lot of criticism.

As he spent 18 months in jail after his arrest in 1996, he was asked to serve the remaining 42 months of the five-year sentence which he will complete in March next year.

It was reported in September this year that the actor's 'pardon plea' was rejected Maharashtra Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao. Dutt's lawyers, however, said that he did not file any such plea and the plea which the governor rejected was filed by former Supreme Court judge Justice Markandey Katju, seeking 'pardon for Dutt and other convicts in the case'.

Currently, Dutt is out on furlough since August 27 citing his daughter's 'medical problems'.