Dutt appeared restless, read religious books in jail

Mumbai: Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt spent his first night after returning to prison reading spiritual books even as Maharashtra Government authorities are yet to decide on keeping him at Arthur Road Central Jail in Mumbai or shifting him elsewhere. The 53-year-old filmstar surrendered before TADA Court on Thursday and was later shifted to the high-security jail in central Mumbai.

He has to serve 42 more months in jail after his conviction in the 1993 bomb blast case was upheld by the Supreme Court which, however, reduced his sentence by one year (to five from six) in March. "The issue of shifting Dutt to another jail has not yet been discussed," said Additional Director General of Police (Prisons) Meera Borwankar.

Another senior officer said the prison department is currently involved in gathering information such as number of convicts, security conditions, presence of inmates linked to underworld in various jails in the State like those located in Taloja (Navi Mumbai), Yerwada (Pune), Thane, Nagpur and Nashik.

"We will go through this information and then take a call on whether or not to shift the actor (to some other jail). If things permit, he may be kept in Arthur Road Jail. However, the chances of shifting him to Yerwada Jail appear to be more bright," the officer added.

Asked about the activities of the actor in the cell where he has been kept, the officer stated, "last night, he (Dutt) read some spiritual books he brought along with him. He also did physical exercise this morning. However, the actor appeared restless and kept to himself."

Dutt had sought permission from the TADA Court to carry with him to jail copies of "Bhagwad Gita", "Ramayan" and "Hanuman Chalisa". On last occasion when the actor was in Yerwada Jail, he had undertaken a job to make chairs.

As a convict, he can opt for carpentry, weaving, agriculture or bakery work, as he will have to put in "hard labour". His options, however, depend on which prison he would be lodged in, as jails have different industries for inmates. Dutt has already spent 18 months in jail after his arrest in April 1993 and he has another three-and-half years to serve.