Monica Bedi case adjourned to December 5

Hyderabad, Nov 16 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh High Court today adjourned to December 5 hearing on an appeal moved by film actress Monica Bedi against her conviction by a city criminal court in a cheating case.

When arguments on the appeal commenced, noted Supreme Court lawyer K T S Tulasi showed the court a xerox copy of the judgement by a Portuguese court, which had convicted Ms Bedi for using fake passport to enter that country. He said by operation of Article 20 read with Section 300 of Cr. P C, no acccused could be punished twice on the same charge and material.

Mr Justice Tamada Gopala Krishna refused to look at the judgement on the ground that it was not a certified copy. He insisted that her counsel should restrict his arguments only to the extent of her claim for bail during the pendency of the appeal.

The counsel said the constitutional questions raised by him were very vital to consider his client's bail application. He pleaded that in all fairness, counsel for the CBI, who insisted on her being kept in prison even during pendency of the appeal, should have filed a certified copy of the Portuguese court's judgement.

Mr Tulasi said it was the Indian Government which got Ms Bedi extradited and it had perfect knowledge of the Portuguese judgement.

Ms Bedi was deported to India subject to certain conditions.

The Judge directed CBI counsel to produce a certified copy of the Portuguese jugement and adjourned further hearing to December 5.

UNI XR/JRK AA LS VV2032