Dutt gets SC nods to go abroad as UN's Goodwill Ambassador

New Delhi, Jan 14 (PTI) Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt,
out on bail in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case, was
Wednesday allowed by the Supreme Court of India to go abroad
to fulfil 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 asking 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 UN's Goodwill Ambassador
on malnutrition, Dutt's presence was required in 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 -- in Bangkok, South
Africa and United Kingdom, the advocate said.

Dutt, who was convicted and sentenced to six years
imprisonment under 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 Terrorism
and Destructive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) court. 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 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.

The Bollywood star, who was sentenced in July 2007,
had spent 18 months in jail during the pendency of the trial.