Monica acquitted in fake passport case

Bhopal, Sep 6: A Sessions Court here today upheld the acquittal of underworld don Abu Salem's aide Monica Bedi by a lower court in a fake passport case.

District and Sessions Judge Renu Sharma acquitted the accused following the delay in obtaining permission by the prosecution from the District Magistrate for filing an appeal.

The Judge, who had earlier reserved the order on September 3, said the prosecution had filed an appeal against the decision of the lower court on July 19. However, it failed to obtain the permission from the District Magistrate.

The requisite permission was obtained on July 28.

Judge Sharma pointed out that the prosecution had committed several mistakes in preparing the case against the accused.

No case was put up against Siraj, an accused-turned approver, and Kabir, who was involved in preparing the passport, besides employees of the municipal corporation.

The prosecution had filed the appeal after Monica was acquitted by Chief Judicial Magistrate A K Srivastava on July 16. Later, she was released from the Bhopal jail.

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

Talking to reporters after the verdict, defence counsel P C Bedi expressed happiness over the judgement and said the prosecution had failed to prove Monica's complicity in the case.

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.

UNI