Monica case: Court reserves order

Bhopal, Sept 3 (UNI) A local court today reserved its order in a fake passport case in which underworld don Abu Salem's starlet-girlfriend Monica Bedi was acquitted recently.

District and Sessions Judge Renu Sharma reserved the order after hearing counsels of both sides.

Monica, her father Prem Kumar Bedi, uncle Purushottam Bedi and brother were present in the court.

Prosecution had filed a petition before the court after Monica was acquitted by Chief Judicial Magistrate A K Srivastava's court.

Public Prosecutor H L Jha contended that case was filed as the accused had got a fake passport made.

Mr Jha argued that hearing in the case had taken place against just Monica, who used fake name Fauzia Osman for getting her passport made.

He said accused-turned-government witness Siraj should have been acquitted instead of Monica.

Defence Counsel P C Bedi contended that Monica was acquitted as charges against her could not be proved and as such the matter should be quashed.

During the one-and-half-hour-long argument, written reply was also submitted by the defence.

The next hearing has been fixed on September 6.

On November 28, 2001, a case was registered at the Koh-i-Fiza police station against Salem, Samira and Monica for having fake passports made at the regional passport office using the names Danish Baig, Rubina Baig and Fauzia Osman respectively. Monica was acquitted in the case in July.

UNI