New Delhi, Feb 05: Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt, who
is on bail in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case, on Thursday got
Supreme Court's permission to extend his foreign visit by two
weeks to fulfil his commitments as United Nations' Goodwill
Ambassador on malnutrition.
Dutt moved an application seeking to modify the apex
court's January 14 order by which he was allowed to go abroad
till February 15.
Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi said the actor, who is
abroad, had to seek the court's permission for extending his
foreign visit as the United Nations programme for which he has
to visit the United States has been postponed by two weeks.
Though CBI did not oppose the actor's plea before a Bench
headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan, it pointed out that
the application on behalf of the actor was signed by an
advocate.
The court on January 14 had allowed Dutt to visit New
York to fulfil his commitment as UN's Goodwill Ambassador on
malnutrition.
He had received a letter in this regard from the Director
General, head of Observer Delegation to United Nations
Economic and Social Council. Earlier the programme was
scheduled for first week of February.
The actor was earlier allowed to visit Bangkok, South
Africa and the United Kingdom for the shooting of his two new
films -- "Luck" and "Lamha."
The apex court said the conditions imposed on the actor
by its previous order would be applicable.
On coming back, Dutt will have to surrender his passport
to the CBI's Special Task Force, Mumbai, by March 15.
Dutt, who was convicted and sentenced to six years
imprisonment under the Arms Act for possessing illegal weapons
in connection with 1993 Mumbai blasts case, was granted bail
after he filed an appeal against the TADA court's verdict.
He was, however, absolved of the serious offence under
the TADA.
Dutt, 50, has been regularly allowed to go abroad for his
films after filing affidavits stating that he would return to
the country after completing his work.
While granting bail to the actor on November 27 2007, the
court had directed him to surrender his passport and asked him
not to leave the country without its permission.
The CBI had not opposed his bail maintaining that he
was entitled for the relief since he was guilty of a less
serious offence.
The Bollywood star, who was sentenced in July 2007, had
spent 18 months in jail during the pendency of the trial.
Bureau Report
First Published: Thursday, February 05, 2009, 00:00