Mumbai, Apr 29: A special court today allowed Sanjay Dutt, actor and accused in 1993 bomb blast case, to apply for fresh passport, subject to certain conditions, as the earlier one had expired. Looking into his fair conduct in the past, the designated judge P D Kode allowed Sanjay to apply for fresh passport but directed him to deposit this document within 24 hours with the register of the court and warned him not to misuse it.
The order was delivered on an application made by Sanjay's lawyer Farhana Shah.


The actor pleaded that he was required to visit foreign countries in the course of his professional duty for film shootings. As the earlier one had expired he desired to go in for a fresh passport.
Allowing his plea, the judge noted that Sanjay had been allowed to go abroad several times in the past and he had never misused the conditions imposed by the court. Looking into his fair conduct, the court was inclined to grant him permission to apply for fresh passport, the judge noted.

The court had yesterday exempted Sanjay from appearance for four days. The actor was also allowed to visit Hyderabad for shooting of film 'rudraksha' till May 1. He has been directed to appear on May 2.
The actor is facing trial since his arrest in April 1993. He was granted bail in October 1995 by the Supreme Court. Since then he has been coming to the court regularly.
Sanjay is facing the charge of possessing an AK-56 rifle in a notified area under Tada (P) act (Mumbai) and destroying evidence (disposing of the rifle). The actor has already denied the charges.
Bureau Report