Bhopal Court Convicts Underworld Don Abu Salem in Fake Passport Case

Bhopal Court Convicts Underworld Don Abu Salem in Fake Passport Case

Bhopal, November 16 (Pervez Bari): The underworld don Abu Salem has been convicted in a fake passport case by a local court here in Bhopal. He has been found guilty under sections 471 (fake document) of Indian Penal Code, (IPC), and 12(1)(b) (Passport Act). While charges framed under 468 of IPC against him have been quashed.

Pronouncing the verdict Chief Judicial Magistrate, (CJM), R. J. Singh said the quantum of sentence would be announced three days later i.e. on November 19. He can be sentenced two to seven years of imprisonment. After prosecutor Yogesh Pancholi had presented written argument on November 1, the CJM had fixed November 16 as the date for pronouncing the verdict.

Salem was brought to the Bhopal district and sessions court amid tight security. Salem had earlier been brought to Bhopal central jail from Mumbai's Arthur Road jail last month on October 28. He is likely to remain in the Bhopal prison till the quantum of sentence is announce on November 19. It may be recalled here that on November 28, 2001, a First Information Report, (FIR), was registered at the Koh-e-Fiza Police Station here in Bhopal against Salem, his wife Samira Jumani and actress Monica Bedi for having fake passports made at the regional passport office under the forged names of Danish Baig, Rubina Baig and Fauzia Osman respectively. After his arrest, Salem was presented before the court on November 13, 2007.

He was remanded to police custody till November 30, 2007. A charge sheet was submitted against him on February 11, 2008, and charges framed on June 16, 2009. Monica was acquitted earlier. It may be pointed out here that the 42-year-old Salem was extradited from Portugal along with Monica in 2005 and has been lodged at Arthur Road jail since then. He is being tried for a total number of 9 cases out of which two are murder related. (pervezbari@eth.net)