Court permits release of Monica Bedi on bail

Hyderabad, July 24 (UNI) A Special CBI Court today permitted the release of Monica Bedi, the girlfriend of underworld don Abu Salem, on bail, granted by the Supreme Court on May 17, in a fake passport case.

Special Judge Raghunath Rao granted permission to release Monica on bail, following the apex court's direction yesterday to the judge that the starlet be released on bail without surrendering her passport.

Monica was convicted in the case and was serving a three-year sentence in Chenchalguda jail in the city.

On July 19, the CBI court had refused to release Monica, acquitted in another case in Bhopal and brought to Hyderabad on July 18, for not surrendering her passport as per the apex court's order.

Monica was convicted in the case by the CBI court on September 29, 2006, and sentenced to undergo five-year rigorous imprisonment.

On an appeal against the CBI court's verdict in the Andhra Pradesh High Court by her, the High Court had reduced the jail term to three years, considering her status and age.

Monica, along with Abu Salem, was arrested in Portugal in August 2002 for using fake passport and both were later extradited to India.

UNI