Monica Bedi's acquittal upheld

Bhopal, Sep 6: Bhopal District and Sessions Judge Renu Sharma today upheld the acquittal of underworld don Abu Salem's friend Monica Bedi by a lower court in a fake passports case.

The acquittal was granted because of delay in obtaining permission by prosecution from the District Magistrate for filing the appeal.

Judge Sharma, who had earlier reserved the order on September 3, said prosecution had filed the appeal against the decision of lower court on July 19. However, it had not obtained permission from the District Magistrate.

The requisite permission was obtained on July 28.

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

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

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

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

Talking to reporters here today 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. Monica was acquitted in the case in July.

UNI