Monica given tearful farewell at Bhopal Jail

Bhopal, July 18 (UNI) The exit of underworld don Abu Salem's starlet-girlfriend Monica Bedi from the Central Jail here bore a startling similarity to a filmi 'vidai' ceremony.

Monica and woman inmates wept inconsolably while embracing late last night. ''Sahab, she doled out affection during the (roughly) ten months spent here (as undertrial),'' Guard Pushpa Keer told UNI.

''After completion of legal formalities last night, Monica's eyes were swollen while she left for Hyderabad in police custody,'' said Jailer P K Singh. The female inmates gifted Monica a doll whose eyes were made by Monica herself.

She was acquitted on Monday by a local court in a fake passport case. Late last night, she was sent in custody to Hyderabad by train as a Special Court there has sentenced her in a similar case.

Nobody recalled a single moment when she misbehaved with the staff or said an angry word to any inmate.

''She was a polite girl who liked to mix and was interested in learning,'' said Ms Neena Shrivastav who trains inmates to make dolls.

Monica became pals with inmates Suneeta and Shabbo. With the former she conversed in Telugu. Suneeta is incarcerated with other naxals accused of running a weapons factory here.

Teachers Christina Cando and Anita Parker, who instruct female inmates and children below six years, revealed that Monica loved kids very much.

''Dacoit Arvind Gurjar's wife Babli was shifted here from Gwalior and often criticised Monica. Her 'complaint' was why everyone praised the starlet,'' said Guard Beena Tiwari.

Monica trained inmates in dance and acting but did not share details of either her personal life or her past. During moments of intense frustration, she would simply say, ''I wonder whether I'll ever be freed.'' UNI