No advice from Centre to pardon Dutt: Patil

Maharashtra Home Minister R R Patil clarified on Friday that the state home department has not received any communication from the Centre on the issue of granting a remission or pardon to actor Sanjay Dutt.

The sources in Patil’s office told Deccan Herald that even the actor’s family, including sister and Congress MP Priya Dutt, have not made any such request, “and neither has the department received any such communication.”

Since early this week, rumours in the media have been making rounds with regard to President seeking clarification from the Maharashtra government on the issue of Dutt’s pardon or reduction of his imprisonment sentence.

Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council Vinod Tawde on Friday met Patil to express his opposition towards such a move on grounds that whether politician or actor, “nobody should be condoned for their crime as this would open floodgates and every convict would start seeking pardon.”

The actor at present out on furlough is serving his remaining 42-months of prison term.