Mumbai, May 24: Convicted for negligent driving and causing injury to two persons, Bollywood actor John Abraham today sought direction to the Regional Passport Office to renew his passport claiming that his absence from a film shooting in Turkey would lead to a loss of Rs 50 lakh per day.
The High Court had recently upheld the 15-day sentence awarded to John for rash and negligent driving in 2006.
However, his sentence was suspended and the actor was released on probation under the Probation of Offenders Act.
The actor approached the High Court again seeking renewal of his passport for a year which expires within six months.
In his petition, John said the Turkey government rules precribe that work visa should be given only to those who have a passport valid for over six months.
John approached the passport office seeking renewal. However, the passport office refused to do so saying if any case is pending against the applicant then court permission has to be taken before renewal or issuance of a new passport.
In his petition, the actor claimed that since the High Court has granted him probation there was no case pending against him.
Justice P D Kode, however, observed that under the Probation of Offenders Act only the sentence is suspended but the conviction is upheld.
The court has directed John to add the regional passport office as a respondent to his petitions and adjourned the matter till tomorrow.
