Bhopal's jailbirds send rakhis to Monica Bedi

Bhopal, Aug 27 (UNI) Underworld don Abu Salem's girlfriend and Bollywood starlet Monica Bedi has been sent rakhis by women inmates at the Central Jail here where she was lodged for about ten months as an undertrial in a fake passport case.

Lata, Mithilesh, Shabbo and Rajkumari were among more than a dozen inmates who sent the rakhis by post about five days back to Monica's ancestral abode at Chabbewal village in Punjab's Hoshiarpur district.

Confirming the development, official sources told UNI that the inmates were yet to receive any written reply from the actress.

Rajkumari, who is serving a sentence for murder, is unhappy that Monica never contacted the inmates after her release. The women, who were positively influenced by Monica's behaviour in prison, hope that the actress never lands behind bars again.

The inmates recall that Monica taught their children dance and singing besides encouraging the women to read.

''The inmates' attraction to Monica was natural as she was linked to the world of glamour. Her behaviour was proper,'' Prison Superintendent P D Somkunwar told UNI.

On July 16, Monica was acquitted by a local court on the grounds that the prosecution failed to prove the charge.

Salem's local associate and co-accused Kabir alias Baba was also acquitted while his brother Siraj had turned approver. Both allegedly aided Monica in procuring the fake passport.

''I repose full faith in the judiciary,'' a jubilant Monica said after the verdict.

A case was registered at Koh-i-Fiza Police Station on November 28, 2001 against Salem, his wife Samira Jumani and Monica for having made fake passports from Bhopal's Regional Passport Office in the assumed names of Danish Baig, Rubina Baig and Fauzia Osman respectively.

UNI