Monica's jail term reduced to three years

Hyderabad, Mar 8 (UNI) The Andhra Pradesh High Court today reduced the jail term of former actress Monica Bedi in a fake passport case to three years from five years.

Mr Justice B Seshasayana Reddy, while delivering the judgement, said he had took into account Monica's detention period of nine months in Portugal.

However, the Court rejected her claim that she was being subjected to double jeopardy.

The Judge also considered her status and age while reducing the jail term.

While filing an appeal in the High Court, Monica had earlier claimed she was prosecuted and awarded imprisonment in Portugal for possessing a fake passport and in India she was prosecuted for the same offence, which amounted to double jeopardy.

However, the judge, refused to interfere with award of fine of Rs 1000 and Rs 500 imposed on her by the trial court.

As of now, Monica had undergone imprisonment of about two years and six months, which included the term in Portugal.

The Special Court of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had earlier awarded Monica, an associate of gangster Abu Salem, five years jail term in the case.

UNI