Monica case: Accused ready to turn witness

Bhopal, Oct 17: The fake passport case, in which underworld don Abu Salem is one of the five accused, took a turn today when accused Abdul Siraj -- who hails from this city --urged a local court to convert him into a witness.

''An application of this nature was submitted,'' said Public Prosecutor Ramesh Motwani.

Judicial Magistrate Dinesh Kumar Dangi's court recorded two witnesses' statements. Salem's girlfriend and former Bollywood starlet Monica Bedi was also present as an accused this afternoon.

The Koh-i-Fiza Police Station's then sub-inspector Anil Maurya and Constable Sitaram Hadria deposed before the court.

Defence Counsel Santosh Verma urged the court not to cross-examine the witnesses but the bench rejected it.

''A revision petition is being filed in the district court.

Therefore, the cross-examination should be postponed,'' Mr Verma submitted.

The bench maintained that the cross-examination could not be halted until the district court issued a stay.

Monica, who was brought to court at about 1230 hrs amid tight security and stayed for roughly 75 minutes, also urged the bench to postpone cross-examination as one of her lawyers could not arrive from Hyderabad.

Mr Dangi's court framed charges yesterday. On October 12, Monica was brought here from Hyderabad -- where she has already been convicted in another case -- and a hearing took place the following day via video-conferencing. On November 28, 2001, a case was registered at the Koh-i-Fiza Police Station against Salem, his wife Samira Jumani and Monica for having fake passports made at the regional passport office using the names Danish Baig, Rubina Baig and Fauzia Osman respectively.

Salem's local associates Siraj and Saiyyad Abdul and his brother Kabir alias Baba Abu are out on bail while Rubina is absconding.

Salem and Monica were brought to India from Portugal on November 11, 2005. Monica was first presented in the local court in early December 2005.

UNI