Monica case: Witnesses' statements not recorded

Bhopal, Oct 27 (UNI) A local court could not record the statements of three scheduled witnesses today in a fake passports case in which underworld don Abu Salem, his wife Samira Jumani, girlfriend and former Bollywood starlet Monica Bedi stand accused.

Havildar R P Pande, Constable Sanjay Joshi and Head Clerk Bansilal were listed but Chief Judicial Magistrate Dinesh Kumar Dangi was informed that Havildar Pande had died in a road mishap while another was ill.

Monica was present in court for the second day today amid tight security.

The court yesterday issued a production warrant against Salem. Monica's counsel objected to another accused Siraj's application for being converted into a government witness. Mr Dangi ordered that Salem be brought here by December 15.

The don, extradited from Portugal, is incarcerated in Mumbai as he also stands accused of the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts.

During yesterday's deposition of witness Naseem, Defence Counsel P C Bedi submitted a revision petition against Monica's version not being heard prior to charges being framed. The plea will be heard on November 1. Another application urged that the defence be heard prior to converting Siraj into a government witness.

Gandhinagar locality-resident Naseem deposed against Monica in the presence of Public Prosecutor Ramesh Motwani.

''I never saw Monica, Salem, his wife Samira, Kabir and Siraj in Gandhinagar,'' Mr Naseem said. One of the passports of Monica gives her permanent residence as being in Gandhinagar.

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