Giving respite to the cornered actor, the court has allowed Sanjay Dutt, an accused in the 1993 serial blasts case, to fly abroad.

Judge P.D. Kode granted him permission on a plea he made to visit Canada and the US for film shooting and personal engagements.

Sanjay Dutt has been allowed to shoot for film "Dus" in Canada and to attend India's independence day celebrations in Chicago on an invitation by the Counsel General of India.

The court permitted Sanjay Dutt to meet his daughter in New York before returning to India on August 21.

Kode warned Sanjay Dutt "not to maintain any contact with any absconding accused and restrained him from tampering with evidence in any manner."

He directed him to file a detailed programme of his visit with the registrar of the court while exempting him from personal appearance till August 30.

Sanjay Dutt, accused of conspiring with other accused in the case, illegally possessing an AK-56 rifle and destroying evidence, has denied all the charges.