Dutt gets SC nod to go abroad

Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt, out on bail in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case, was on Wednesday allowed by the Supreme Court to go abroad to fulfill his commitments as United Nations' goodwill ambassador and for his film shoot.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan gave the green signal to Dutt on his application to go abroad from January 16 to February 15 and asked him to surrender his passport on return to the Central Bureau of Investigation's special task force, Mumbai, by February 28.

Senior advocate Fali S Nariman told the court that as a consequence of being appointed as the UN's goodwill ambassador on malnutrition, Dutt's presence was required in the United States in the first week of February.

He said the director general, head of observer delegation to United Nations Economic and Social Council, has addressed a letter to Dutt in this regard.

The actor will also be needed for the shooting of his two new films -- Luck and Lamha --

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 verdict of the TADA court.

He was, however, absolved of the serious offence of 'terrorism' under TADA.

Dutt, 50, has been regularly allowed to go abroad for his films after filing an affidavit 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.