Hyderabad: The special court of the CBI at Gagan Vihar sentenced mafia don Abu Salem to seven years’ rigorous imprisonment in the fake passport case on Thursday. He was produced before the court amidst tight security. Salem was convicted of the crime on November 18.
Third additional special judge M.V. Ramana Naidu pronounced the sentence. Abu Salem alias Abdul Qayoom Ansari was convicted under Section 120B IPC (criminal conspiracy), and sentenced to seven years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1,000, and in default, three months simple imprisonment (SI).
He was also convicted under 419 IPC (cheating by impersonation), to one year rigorous imprisonment, and under 120 B r/w 420 IPC for cheating, which carries a sentence of seven years rigorous imprisonment and Rs 1,000 fine and in default, three months simple imprisonment.
Other sections he was convicted under are 468 IPC (forgery for purpose of cheating), which got him one year rigorous imprisonment, '1,000 fine, and in default, three months simple imprisonment, and 471 IPC (used as genuine, a forged document), which attracted rigorous imprisonment for one year, '1,000 fine and in default, three months simple imprisonment.
The sentences are to run concurrently, and amount to seven years imprisonment in all, the maximum under these charges. Salem has already served six years as an undertrial.
Salem responded to all the questions asked by the special judge during the court session. He mentioned his name as Abu Salem and informed that he had one daughter and wife. When the judge asked him if he has any health issues, he replied that he has back pain.
After the sentence was pronounced, the defence counsel requested the court to reduce the quantum of punishment, but this was refused.
Salem has already been an undertrial prisoner for six years and is currently lodged in Taloja Central Prison in Navi Mumbai. With this sentence, he will likely be in prison for one more year.
CBI’s senior public prosecutor T. Venkata Ramana said, “Salem was convicted under all the five charges framed against him.
We sought the maximum punishment of seven years imprisonment, which was given. He used false information and documents like name (Ramil Kamil Malik), residence address and submitted fake declaration to the Regional Passport Office, Secunderabad.” The prosecution examined 39 witnesses and marked 60 documents in the case to prove the charges, Ramana added.
In 2001, Abu Salem, his wife Sameera Jumani, and film actress Monica Bedi were issued passports after submitting false documents that showed them to be residents of Kurnool. Salem then travelled to Lisbon in Portugal with the fake passport. On the CBI’s request, a Red Corner Notice was issued by Interpol against him in 1997.
A case was registered in 2006, and the trial began in 2008. Salem was convicted in the fake passport case after 12 years. He is also an accused in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case and many others. While his wife is absconding, Monica Bedi has served her term.
