Sanjay's moment of freedom almost anti-climactic
Thursday, 23 August , 2007, 11:55
Mumbai: After more than three days of wait
and watch, Sanjay Dutt's moment of freedom was almost
anti-climactic.
The actor, who was released from Yerwada jail in Pune
Thursday morning after the Supreme Court granted him interim bail
on Monday, arrived much earlier than expected, taking fans,
media and even the police by surprise.
Read story: Sanjay Dutt released | Image: Sanjay Dutt released
When the 45-year-old actor arrived at his suburban Bandra
residence at 8.30 am, the usual horde of fans was missing, as
most of them had expected his arrival only by mid-morning.
Even the police were caught unawares.
"We had called in 25 extra police personnel from nearby
Bandra police station, anticipating trouble from the crowd
when he arrived. But there was no need because he arrived well
before they did," one of the policemen stationed outside
Dutt's residence said.
Fans missed the emotional welcome that the actor got from
his family. As soon as he got out of the car, Sanjay kissed
nephew Siddharth (Priya Dutt's son), and hugged both his
sisters, Priya and Namrata. Full coverage: Munnabhai goes to jail
Brothers-in-law Owen Roncon and Kumar Gaurav were also
witness to the emotional homecoming.
Sanjay was in jail since July 31, 2007 the day when the
special TADA court sentenced him to six years rigorous
imprisonment for illegal possession of arms in the 1993 Mumbai
serial blasts case.
Dutt�s sprawling residence in the Imperial Heights
building in the posh Bandra neighbourhood of Pali Hill has
been jammed with supporters from the film fraternity ever
since he got bail on Monday.
Outside the gates, fans too kept a constant vigil, hoping
to catch a glimpse of their favourite Munnabhai, but when
the moment did arrive, there were hardly any fans to witness
it.
Only one person, Azam Shaikh, who came all the way from
Ujjain, was present when the actor arrived.
"I am from Ujjain and I have been camping here for the
past three days. I am from the Sankatmochan temple there. Dutt
had come there to pray in the past. I am hoping to meet him,"
Shaikh said.
Many of Dutt's friends from the film industry, including
Vidhu Vinod Chopra, who produced the hit Munnabhai movies,
were seen arriving at his residence. Yusuf Nulwala, who
accompanied the star from Pune to his residence, however left
after a while.
A steady stream of visitors is expected to keep up at the
Dutt residence, and even though the family will be aware that
this is merely temporary relief for Sanjay, they will be keen
to spend every minute with him.
For sisters Priya and Namrata, the fact that their
brother will be with them for the festival of Rakhsha Bandhan
which celebrates the brother-sister relationship, would surely
be a cause of joy.
