The Hindu : Lisbon court turns down Monica Bedi's extradition

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jul 19, 2003

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Lisbon court turns down Monica Bedi's extradition

By Our Special Correspondent

Abu Salem and Monica Bedi

NEW DELHI JULY 18. A Portuguese court has turned down India's request to extradite Monica Bedi, companion of Abu Salem, who is a key accused in the 1993 Bombay serial blasts case. This has come as a jolt to India's efforts to get the duo extradited in a short span of time.

The court decision was conveyed to the Central Bureau of Investigation about a week ago and the agency has requested the Prosecutor-General of Portugal to file an appeal against the Lisbon court's order. Ms.Bedi has two cases against her in India relating to ``conspiracy and cheating with a view to obtaining a forged passport''.

Highly-placed CBI sources said the Extradition Court in Lisbon had said that Ms. Bedi could be tried there for ``travelling on forged documents'' but the CBI is said to have advised the Prosecutor-General that conspiracy and cheating parts of the case with a view to obtaining a forged document were of a more serious than a simple case of forgery. The CBI has little choice but to wait for the appeal to be heard.

Abu Salem and Ms.Bedi, a Bollywood actress and Syed Haider were arrested in Lisbon by the Portuguese police on September 18 last year for staying in that country on the basis of `forged documents'.

She had allegedly obtained a passport in the fake name of Samiya Mallick Kamal. She also faces a charge of forgery in Madhya Pradesh for procuring a passport in the name of Fauzia Usman. Disputing her pleas before the Extradition Court in Lisbon, the CBI had said India was a democratic country where there was no discrimination on the basis of religion, caste, creed or sex. The Government had already taken a decision not to award the death penalty either to Salem or Ms. Bedi.

Sources said Salem's extradition case was also being heard by the same court and that he is learnt to have advanced several arguments such as the possibility of his being harassed if sent back to India. A reply to the Lisbon court has already been sent by the CBI.

However, sources indicated that in accordance with Portuguese laws Salem would be first made to stand trial there and serve punishment. It would mean that his extradition could also be a far-fetched proposition which could easily turn into a long wait.

The CBI counsel in Lisbon has been advised to brief the Prosecutor-General on all aspects.

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