Imprisoned Bollywood actor released for 2 weeks

[October 01, 2013]  MUMBAI, India (AP) -- Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt was temporarily released Tuesday from an Indian prison where he is serving time for illegal possession of weapons linked to the 1993 terror attack in the financial capital of Mumbai.

The 54-year-old actor said he would spend his two weeks of leave, granted by prison authorities for good behavior, at home with his family.

"I am a law-abiding citizen," he told reporters after leaving Yerawada Central Jail in Pune, a city near Mumbai. "I will go back at the given time."

Dutt became popular for his Hindi film roles as a reformed thug who follows the teachings of pacifist freedom fighter Mohandas Gandhi. According to industry estimates, he is currently involved in projects worth at least $20 million.

He was convicted for illegal possession of weapons linked to the 1993 terror attack, when 13 powerful bombs packed into cars and scooters exploded over a two-hour period across Mumbai. The bombs killed 257 people and injured 720.

He has said he knew nothing about the bombing plot, and wanted the guns to protect his family -- his mother was Muslim and his father Hindu -- after receiving threats during the religious riots that preceded the bombings.

The Supreme Court in March confirmed his conviction, but reduced his sentence to five years from six, including 18 months already served.

[Associated Press]

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