THE COURT of Additional District & Sessions Judge Anurag Shrivastava on Monday partially allowed the revision petition of former Bollywood starlet and companion of underworld don Abu Salem Monica Bedi for quashing of charges framed against her by the trial court in the fake passport case.
Accordingly, the court dropped charges under Section 419 of the IPC for impersonation. The trial court of judicial magistrate Dinesh Kumar Dangi had charged Monica under Sections 419, 420, 468 and 471 of the IPC and Section 12 of the Passport Act.
In his brief order, judge Anurag Shrivastava held that according to conditions of extradition of the accused from Portugal, she cannot be tried for impersonation. The copies of order by the Court of Appeal, Lisbon High Court and Supreme Court of Justice in Portugal were produced in the court for reference on whose basis the court decided to drop charges against Monica under Section 419 of the IPC for alleged impersonation.
The judge said that the accused was not charged under sections 467 and 120 (b) of the IPC for the same reason because crime charged under these sections was punishable with life imprisonment while the extradition conditions lay down that the accused would not be given punishment exceeding 25 years of imprisonment.
However, the court maintained charges under other sections of the Indian Penal Code and Passport Act holding that the fake passport could only have been used by the accused since her photograph is pasted on it, giving prima facie indication that she might have been involved in the fake passport conspiracy. Monica along with Abu Salem and three other accused were charged for conspiring and obtaining fake passports.
However, the court maintained charges under other sections of the Indian Penal Code and Passport Act holding that the fake passport could only have been used by the accused since her photograph is pasted on it, giving prima facie indication that she might have been involved in the fake passport conspiracy. Monica along with Abu Salem and three other accused were charged for conspiring and obtaining fake passports.