Actor Sanjay Dutt walks out of Yerwada jail after serving his sentence

Mumbai: After spending 42 months in prison, Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt was freed from Yerwada Central prison in Pune on Thursday. Dutt was jailed in an arms case related to the 1993 Bombay bomb blasts in which more than 200 people were killed.

After walking out of the jail, Dutt bowed down, touched the soil and turned towards the prison gate and saluted. Dutt's wife Manyata, Bollywood director Raj Kumar Hirani received him outside the prison. "There is no easy walk to freedom, my friends. I am here because of the support of my family and friends," said Dutt after coming out of prison.

Dutt was in jail for 42 months of his five-year sentence as he had been in prison for 18 months during the trial.

The actor will take a chartered flight to Mumbai from Pune's Lohegaon airport around 10:30 AM. He is likely to visit Siddhivinayak Temple in Mumbai, and then proceed to seek blessing at his mother's grave at Marine Lines.

Earlier, a group of people was detained for protesting outside the prison against Dutt's early release. An activist has also filed a PIL against the actor's early release, alleging special treatment. The PIL is likely to be heard on Thursday itself.

Dutt's prison term was also marred by controversies because of his frequent furlough and parole.

An emotional Priya, Dutt's sister, said this is about an ordeal coming to an end. "It's an emotional day. I wish our father was here to see this. He has been very strong. He has been very sincere all through the 23 years. We cannot even understand what it must have been staying there inside the jail. He never complained. The love of the people for him and that his family is there with him is a big support," said Priya.

Dutt was lodged in the Yerawada prison in May 2013 to undergo remainder of his sentence after being convicted for illegal possession of arms under the Arms Act.

The Bollywood star was arrested on April 19, 1993, for possession and destruction of an AK-56 rifle, which was a part of cache of arms and explosives which landed in India prior to the serial blasts of March 1993.

During the investigation and the marathon trial, he spent 18 months in jail.