Monica case: Witnesses fail to turn up

Bhopal, Dec 5 (UNI) Absence of witnesses today forced a local court to postpone recording of statements in a fake passports case wherein underworld don Abu Salem and his starlet girlfriend Monica Bedi are among the accused.

Accused-turned-government witness Shiraz submitted an application demanding security. Monica was present before Chief Judicial Magistrate Raveendra Singh.

Defence Counsel P C Bedi pleaded that a perjury case be registered against Shiraz whose advocate said, ''there is a threat to his life as he is now a government witness. His statement should be recorded speedily.'' A travel agency owner Mahendra Sharma's Counsel Sajid Ali also accused Shiraz of perjury. ''Shiraz, who is misleading the court to save his brother, approached my client's agency to obtain passports for three persons. He was asked by Mr Sharma to bring the applicants in person,'' said Mr Ali.

Shiraz never returned to the agency and instead went to the regional passport office with fake documents.

Arguments and the public prosecutor's reply are scheduled for tomorrow.

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.

On October 12 this year, Monica was conveyed here from Hyderabad where she has already been convicted in another case. The bench directed that Salem also be brought before it by December 15.

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