John had approached the Bombay High Court yesterday seeking renewal of his passport, which expires within the next six months.
In his petition, the actor stated that as per its laws, the Turkey government issues work visas only to those that have a passport validity of greater than six months.
Earlier, the actor had approached the passport office seeking renewal. However, the officials rejected his application, stating that they can't renew any person’s passport without the court’s permission against whom a court case is pending.
Ponda said, “He had no restrictions put on travelling abroad even after his conviction.” In his petition, John had also claimed that for the reason that high court had granted him probation, there has been no case pending against him.
Justice P D Kode, who was hearing the petition, told the petitioner that under the Probation of Offenders Act only the sentence is suspended, however the conviction is maintained.
The court has directed the actor so as to add the passport office as a respondent to his petition and deferred the problem till today.
Case history
On April 7, 2006, John Abraham’s motorcycle — Suzuki Hayabusa — had skidded and knocked down two persons in Khar. Post- accident, the actor himself rushed the injured — Shyam Kasbe and Tanmay Majhi — to a hospital.
The two men were discharged after treatment. In October 2010, the Metropolitan Magistrate Court at Bandra sentenced John to a 15-day jail term. The actor had filed an appeal within the Sessions Court, and later the Bombay High Court, which upheld his conviction within the case.
The court, however, chose to release the actor on probation since he was a first-time offender. He was asked to sign a bond of Rs 10, 000 and pay Rs 10, 000 as compensation to the injured.
Courtesy: Mid-Day.com
