The Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt, who was convicted for illegal possession of arms in connection with the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts, to go abroad for shooting for six months but refused to grant him the relief for a year.
A Bench headed by Chief Justice KG
Balakrishnan permitted Dutt, who is on bail, to visit foreign countries from December 1, 2009 to May 31, 2010 for his professional committments.
The apex court said Dutt has to surrender his passport to CBI on his return.
The Bench granted him permission for six months as Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium said one-year relief at a stretch for the actor would be a long period.
Dutt, who was convicted and sentenced to six years imprisonment under the Arms Act for illegally possessing 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 under TADA.
Dutt, 50, has been regularly allowed to go abroad for the shoot of 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 Bollywood star, who was sentenced in July 2007, had spent 18 months in jail during the pendency of the trial.