Monica Bedi released on bail from AP jail

Hyderabad, July 25: Underworld don Abu Salem's companion and starlet Monica Bedi was today released on bail from the Chenchalguda women prison, where she was serving a three-year sentence in a forged passport case.

After submitting the court orders to the jail superintendent, Monica was released from the prison and was received by her father Prem Kumar Bedi and uncle Purushottam Bedi.

On July 19, the CBI court had refused to release Monica on bail granted by the Supreme Court for not surrendering her passport as per the court's direction.

A Special CBI Court had yesterday ordered the release of Monica on bail, granted by the Supreme Court in the fake passport case.

The Judge permitted her release after the apex court relaxed the condition on July 23 and ordered the CBI court to release Monica without surrendering her passport.

Monica was brought to Hyderabad on July 18 after she was acquitted in another fake passport case in Bhopal.

She was convicted in the case by the CBI court on September 29, 2006, and sentenced to five years rigorous imprisonment.

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

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

UNI