Dutt gets SC nod to go abroad as UN Ambassador

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 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.