Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt on Sunday offered prayers at the famed Vaishnodevi cave shrine near Jammu but the government car and a police escort provided to the Mumbai blasts case convict has sparked a controversy.
The star, who will be on interim bail at least till September 27, paid obeisance at the shrine nestled in Trikuta hills for about half-an-hour. He was accompanied by his girlfriend Manyata and two friends.

“Dutt visited the shrine like all other devotees and no special arrangements were made for him,” Additional CEO of the Shrine board Puneet Kumar told PTI from Katra.

Dutt refused to comment on the controversy but the state police justified it as part of a security drill for important personalties.

“I have no idea about it,” Dutt told reporters at the airport after returning from the shrine and did not want to be drawn into the row.

Although no special arrangements were made, the CRPF and the police provided Dutt fool-proof security through the yatra and return to Jammu.

The actor was provided with an official car and police escort for the pilgrimage as the state government apprehended he could be an “easy target” for militants in the border state.

Police however, saw nothing wrong saying they cannot compromise on security of any VIP. “We cannot compromise with the security of any VIP,” a police spokesman said.

A spokesman of the J& K government sought to downplay the issue saying it was a  precautionary security measure.