Monica Bedi acquitted in fake passport case

Bhopal, July 16: Underworld don Abu Salem's starlet-girlfriend Monica Bedi was today acquitted by a local court in a fake passport case on the ground that the prosecution failed to prove the charge.

Chief Judicial Magistrate Ajay Shrivastava, who delivered the verdict, directed that stern action be initiated by the government against the prosecution and other agencies for failure to bring out facts to nail the accused.

''It is saddening that notary Khaleel Ullah, Head Constable Irfan Ahmad, Bhopal Municipal Corporation's then Assistant Superintendent Umashankar, Regional Passport Office official Amar Lakra, Clerk Indu S Nair, retired Deputy Superintendent of Police J P Pali, municipal clerk Aziz Fatima and DSP S K Shukla displayed utter neglect,'' the bench said.

The judge felt that had the people related with the case conducted themselves with total responsibility, the facts would have come to light and the accused would have been punished.

Salem's local associate and co-accused Kabir alias Baba was also acquitted while his brother Siraj had turned approver. Both allegedly aided Monica in procuring the fake passport.

''I repose full faith in the judiciary,'' a jubilant Monica said after the verdict.

A case was registered at Koh-i-Fiza Police Station on November 28, 2001 against Salem, his wife Samira Jumani and Monica for having made fake passports from Bhopal's Regional Passport Office in the assumed names of Danish Baig, Rubina Baig and Fauzia Osman respectively.

The former film actress was brought here on October 12 last year from Hyderabad, where she was convicted in a similar case, and was lodged in the Central Jail here.

Charges were framed on October 16 and recording of witnesses' statements began a day later. On October 26 the Court issued a production warrant against Salem, who along with Monica, was extradited from Portugal last year. Samira is reported to be in America. Statements of 38 witnesses were recorded.

In May, the Supreme Court granted bail to Monica in another passport forgery case in which she was sentenced to three years' imprisonment by the Andhra Pradesh High Court.

UNI