Jail authorities stop home food for Sanjay Dutt, seek court's approval

A court may have permitted actor Sanjay Dutt the luxury of toiletries and some books while he serves out his prison term, but jail authorities have said that he can’t have home food delivered to him in jail since it violates the existing jail manual. The court had initially allowed the actor access to medicines, home-food, a fan, mattress, pillow, copies of religious texts and toiletries. The one request the court did not entertain was Dutt’s request for a electronic cigarette, with the actor instead being advised to give up smoking instead. However, in what will come as a blow for the actor, the Pune jail authorities have said that the actor is ineligible to receive home cooked food since the jail manual doesn’t permit it. The prison authorities have sought clarity from the Tada court on the issue. [caption id=“attachment_819705” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  . Reuters[/caption] The authorities said that under the manua only under-trials can get home cooked food and that too only on medical grounds. Dutt has already spent 18 months in jail, so he has another three and half years to serve. The actor was convicted by the TADA court for illegally possessing a 9 mm pistol and an AK-56 rifle, a part of the consignment of weapons and explosives brought to India for coordinated serial blasts that killed 257 people and injured over 700 in March 1993. The apex court had on 14 May refused to grant him more time to surrender. On 10 May, the Supreme Court had also dismissed Dutt’s plea seeking review of its judgement.