Sanjay Dutt turns RJ at Yerawada Central Jail

While 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts convict Yakub Menon pleads for mercy, Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt, who is convicted of illegal possession of arms relating to the 1993 Mumbai blasts case, is enjoying his new role as a Radio Jockey (RJ) at Pune's Yerawada Central Jail.

"Good Afternoon! Welcome to Radio YCP, mai hu aap ke saath aap ka RJ Sanjay Dutt" this is the voice that prisoners in Yerawda Central Jail hear every day from 12 noon to 1 pm.

Dutt, who played a role of RJ in his film Lage raho Munna Bhai, is now playing the same role in real life inside the prison. He speaks in Hindi and sometimes tries to speak some words in Marathi and writes script for the programme in coordination with other inmates. The 55-year-old actor was selected by the jail authorities as one of the two RJs for the radio station launched inside the prison in the month of November 2014. According to sources, Dutt makes paper bags apart from RJing in Yerawada jail.

At present, Radio YCP broadcasts devotional songs, interviews and various laws related to prisoners. The programme also focuses on a separate theme every day. Between the discussions, songs are played. There are also songs on demand and a programme where the inmates seek counsellor's advice to solve their problems. The hour-long programme is broadcast over the public address system installed inside the jail premises.

Pune's 140-year-old Yerawada Central Jail has given the convicts a forum to air their creativity through the in-house radio station. The jail, which has over 3,500 inmates, including under trials, launched its own radio station to be run by the inmates. The first-of-its-kind in-house radio station is for the prisoners, by the prisoners and about the prisoners.

"We have started this radio station on an experimental basis. This is one of the activity that we have started for prisoners", said a senior officer from prison department.