Sanjay Dutt and his family
Indian Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt poses with his family during a press conference in Mumbai on February 25, 2016, after his release from Pune's Yerwada Jail. STRDEL/AFP/Getty Images

Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt was released from prison on 25 February, where he was sent after being convicted of firearm offences linked to the 1993 Mumbai blasts. He was released after serving three years of his five-year jail term on grounds of "good behaviour".

The actor was sentenced for buying firearms from the bombers, however, he has said that he only bought the weapons to defend his family during Hindu-Muslim riots. The Mumbai blasts in 1993 killed 257 people and injured 713, one of the worst terrorist attacks to hit the country.

Dutt touched the ground with his hand and saluted the prison as he walked out. The 56-year-old addressed a huge media gathering outside his home in Mumbai, saying that it "still it not sinking in" that he was a free man but that "to be fully free is the most amazing feeling".

After 18 months in prison he was released on bail in 2007, pending an appeal. In 2013 the Supreme Court cut his prison term from six years to five years and sent the actor back to jail to serve the rest of his three-and-a-half years. Dutt was allowed several months off at different points of his jail sentence, including time to work on Bollywood movies. A number of people have strongly condemned his eight-month-early release from prison, believing that he has been given special treatment as he is a celebrity.

According the BBC, Dutt told the media upon his release: "I am out of here because of their [the fans'] support. There is no easy walk to freedom, my friends."

IBTimes UK has rounded up how some of his fans – and others – reacted to the actor's prison release on social media.

With the ongoing JNU row still not resolved, many linked back to the debate...

Some questioned the excessive media coverage surrounding his release....

Others strongly disapproved of his release and the fanfare welcome that awaited Dutt....

But his fans stayed true to their hero and celebrated the release...

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