SC allows Sanjay Dutt to extend foreign visit for UN work

Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt, who is on bail in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case, got the 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 the CBI did not oppose the actor's plea before a Bench headed by chief justice KG 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.

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