Mumbai : Sandeep Bacche is also called Munnabhai SSC by his friends. He is an auto driver by profession and a huge Sanju Baba fan. Ever since Baba was sent to jail three years ago, Bacche refused to wear footwear.
“I have been Baba’s fan since childhood,” said 38-year-old Bacche. He has also tattooed his arm with Dutt’s face and name. In 2003, when Bacche’s mother was ill, he was in need of money. He stood outside Dutt’s apartment for many days, till one day Sanjay noticed him. “He gave me Rs 1,200, which was whatever he had in his wallet at the time,” said Bacche.
“But that is not why I am his fan. I like him because he is a good human being. He made some mistakes, but readily took punishment that was meted out to him,” Bacche said.
To celebrate Baba’s release, Bacche gave free rides to Bandraites on Thursday. “From morning, I have given 22 free rides,” he said happily. He also decorated his auto with flowers and put up posters on the auto which read ‘Welcome home Baba’.
When in jail, Dutt had heard about a fan of his who had stopped wearing chappals since he was imprisoned. When Sanjay came home for Ganpati, he called him home for tea and asked Bacche to start wearing chappals. “I had refused. I told Baba, I want you to come out of jail, after that I will wear,” he said. Asked whether he will start wearing footwear now that his idol has been released, he said “I want to meet Baba personally. Only after I get a hug from him, I will start wearing chappals.”
