Lawyers say the tainted actor's celebrity status helped him effortlessly secure furlough for medical reasons, even as the average inmate has to struggle to obtain permission

Call it happenstance or something else, but a day ahead of Mahatma Gandhi's birth anniversary, his reel-life emissary was released from prison for 14 days. Incarcerated actor Sanjay Dutt flew to Mumbai after managing to secure furlough for medical reasons from Yerawada Jail last morning.

As per doctors from Sassoon General Hospital, the Bollywood star was undergoing treatment for Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) -- a condition he has been suffering from for the past 2 to 3 years -- and had been advised some medical tests to check the severity of the disease in July. On the other hand, lawyers claim that ordinary prisoners seeking furlough for medical reasons have to strive a lot, often unsuccessfully.


"While releasing Sanjay Dutt, the authorities have followed the law. But this should happen with everyone else too. As Dutt is a celebrity, the process became easy for him. But other prisoners either don't get consent, or have to negotiate a vicious cycle of corruption," claimed Asim Sarode, advocate.

Speaking to MiD DAY, deputy inspector general (prisons) Rajendra Dhamane said, "Sanjay Dutt had applied for furlough in August. After getting reports and permissions from concerned departments and the local police station, we have sanctioned this for 14 days. During this period, he can live like a normal citizen. However, he has to report to the local police station every day and won't be allowed to travel abroad. If he violates any law during this period, his leave will be cancelled."

Elaborating on this Yogesh Desai, superintendent of Yerawada Jail, said "As per his application and the order from concerned authorities, we have released Dutt on furlough. This is the right of an inmate and we have gone by the rules."

Doctors started treating Dutt in jail, after he complained of pain in his legs. "In the month of July, we had conducted regular check-up and diagnosis for the pain in his legs. As he was suffering from PAD for the past few years, we advised him to go through a CT angiogram/arterial angiography," said a senior doctor from Sassoon hospital, who was part of the team that treated Dutt.


What is PAD?
Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) is a condition caused by the narrowing of arteries. It mainly occurs in vessels that supply blood and get congested, due to plaque build-up. Plaque comprises fat, cholesterol, calcium, fibrous tissue, and other substances in the blood. According to doctors, there are chances of formation of collateral veins to regularise blood supply. If the collateral veins don't form, then one needs to undergo surgery to remove blockage. In extreme cases, if surgery is not done, then the patient may get gangrene

What is furlough?
It is leave for inmates according to law, which can be utilised for various purposes like medical treatment (if it is not available in government hospitals), illness or death of close relatives. The calculation is based on the number of days spent in jail by a convict. Usually, furlough is for 14 days.