Bollywood Actor Barred From Contesting Polls

India's Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that a Bollywood actor who has served nearly two years of a six-year prison sentence for illegal arms possession cannot contest India's general elections next month, a news report said.

A three-judge panel of the court refused Sanjay Dutt's plea to suspend his conviction and allow him to stand as a candidate for the Samajwadi, or Socialist Party, because he had been convicted of a serious offense, the Press Trust of India news agency reported.

Supreme Court officials were not available to comment Tuesday afternoon. Mr. Dutt told reporters that he would respect the verdict of the court.

"Sanjay Dutt is a nice man and he wanted to serve people, but this court order has prevented him from doing that, " Rajendra Choudhary, a spokesman for the Socialist Party said adding that the party would also respect the court's verdict.

In July 2007, the actor was sentenced to six years in prison for possession of illegal arms supplied by men convicted in a 1993 Mumbai bomb attack that killed 257 people and was blamed on Islamic extremists.

Mr. Dutt, a Hindu, was arrested in 1994 and had spent a total 20 months in prison when he was released on bail in November 2007 pending an appeal. No hearing date has been approved.

He was acquitted of more serious terrorism and conspiracy charges.

Indian law bans anyone who has been sentenced to serve more than two years in prison from contesting elections.

Voting in India's national elections will begin April 16 and last through May.

Mr. Dutt is popular for his roles as a reformed thug who follows the teachings of nonviolence advocate and Indian independence hero Mohandas Gandhi.

His latest film bit hit was "Lage Raho Munnabhai" or "Carry on Munnabhai," in 2006.