53-year-old Dutt was taken from Arthur Road jail after midnight in a well-guarded operation by authorities who wanted to avoid the media hype and glare during the three-hour travel between Mumbai and Pune, a jail official said.
“Sanjay Dutt was escorted to Pune jail at about 4 AM from Mumbai. There were three police vans that took him to the Pune jail,” the official said.
Security reasons were also cited for the secret operation.
According to sources, Dutt would be kept in a high security cell in Yerwada jail.
Dutt had been lodged at the ‘Anda Cell’ (Egg-shaped) in the high security block in the Arthur Road jail since 16th May after his surrender before the TADA court in Mumbai.
Meeran Borwankar, Additional Director General (Prisons), Maharashtra, when contacted did not give any details about the arrangements being made, if any, inside the Yerwada jail.
The Supreme Court in its 21st March verdict reduced Dutt’s jail term from six years to five years for illegal possession of arms.
The actor had already served 18 months behind bars.
Dutt surrendered before a designated Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) court as the apex court on 14th May refused to grant him more time to give himself up for undergoing the remainder of his five-year jail term.
On 10th May, the Supreme Court had dismissed Dutt’s plea seeking review of its judgement on his conviction and the five-year jail term.
Dutt would be kept in a high security cell in Yeravada jail, sources said.
Meeran Borwankar, Additional Director General (Prisons), confirmed Dutt’s shifting to Yeravada jail but he did not give any details about the arrangements being made, if any, inside the prison.
The actor had surrendered before a designated TADA court as the apex court on 14th May refused to grant him more time to give himself up for undergoing the remainder of his three-and-a-half-year jail term.