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Abu Salem`s girlfriend back on extradition trial
New Delhi, Oct 09: In a significant development, Portugal`s Supreme Court has stayed the order of a trial court that rejected extradition of underworld don Abu Salem`s girlfriend Monica Bedi and directed re-commencement of the proceedings against her.
New Delhi, Oct 09: In a significant development, Portugal's Supreme Court has stayed the order of a trial court that rejected extradition of underworld don Abu Salem's girlfriend Monica Bedi and directed re-commencement of the proceedings against her.
The direction came after CBI had filed a review petition through Portugal Prosecutor General challenging the trial court's order, highly-placed agency sources said here.
While rejecting the extradition request, the trial court had said in July that Bedi could be tried in Portugal as the offence of fraud committed by her in India was punishable in that country as she had committed a similar offence there.
In its appeal, CBI stated that Bedi had submitted forged documents to fraudulently obtain passports whereas the crime committed in Portugal was possession of forged documents and the two crimes were different.
The Supreme Court, after examining the written submissions of both the sides, directed the trial court to begin the extradition trial again keeping in view that the accused had committed her first offence in India and not in Portugal and that entry into the country was only to hide from the law in India, the sources said.
CBI director P C Sharma had also visited Portugal and thanked the prosecutor general's office for the co-operation extended to the agency in tracking the most wanted fugitive, Abu Salem, the sources said.
The extradition trial of Salem was also in its last leg and a decision was likely to be taken soon.
The CBI had sought Monica's extradition for allegedly forging documents in Hyderabad and procuring a fake passport on the assumed name of Samiya Mallick Kamal.
The little-known Bollywood actress was also facing a similar charge in Madhya Pradesh where she allegedly forged documents to procure a passport in the name of Fauzia Usman.
During the trial at Supreme Court, Monica had again raised three queries before the court, which included that she would face harassment as she was a Muslim, a charge denied by the CBI in its written reply submitted to the court.
Portugal was trying Monica and Salem, arrested on September 18 last year, for forging documents that enabled Salem to marry a local girl and Monica to a local man and subsequently procuring a resident work permit.
About Salem's extradition, the sources said decision was likely to be taken within this month on India's extradition plea as the paper work during the trial has been completed.
The Portuguese government has already dropped one of the three charges against salem - of marrying a local girl to get a resident permit.
The two other charges -- obstructing government officials in performing their duty and entering Portugal with forged documents -- remain.
Bureau Report
The direction came after CBI had filed a review petition through Portugal Prosecutor General challenging the trial court's order, highly-placed agency sources said here.
While rejecting the extradition request, the trial court had said in July that Bedi could be tried in Portugal as the offence of fraud committed by her in India was punishable in that country as she had committed a similar offence there.
In its appeal, CBI stated that Bedi had submitted forged documents to fraudulently obtain passports whereas the crime committed in Portugal was possession of forged documents and the two crimes were different.
The Supreme Court, after examining the written submissions of both the sides, directed the trial court to begin the extradition trial again keeping in view that the accused had committed her first offence in India and not in Portugal and that entry into the country was only to hide from the law in India, the sources said.
CBI director P C Sharma had also visited Portugal and thanked the prosecutor general's office for the co-operation extended to the agency in tracking the most wanted fugitive, Abu Salem, the sources said.
The extradition trial of Salem was also in its last leg and a decision was likely to be taken soon.
The CBI had sought Monica's extradition for allegedly forging documents in Hyderabad and procuring a fake passport on the assumed name of Samiya Mallick Kamal.
The little-known Bollywood actress was also facing a similar charge in Madhya Pradesh where she allegedly forged documents to procure a passport in the name of Fauzia Usman.
During the trial at Supreme Court, Monica had again raised three queries before the court, which included that she would face harassment as she was a Muslim, a charge denied by the CBI in its written reply submitted to the court.
Portugal was trying Monica and Salem, arrested on September 18 last year, for forging documents that enabled Salem to marry a local girl and Monica to a local man and subsequently procuring a resident work permit.
About Salem's extradition, the sources said decision was likely to be taken within this month on India's extradition plea as the paper work during the trial has been completed.
The Portuguese government has already dropped one of the three charges against salem - of marrying a local girl to get a resident permit.
The two other charges -- obstructing government officials in performing their duty and entering Portugal with forged documents -- remain.
Bureau Report