Underworld don Abu Salem was sentenced to seven years rigorous imprisonment by a special court for CBI cases here on Thursday, for obtaining fake passports for himself and two others– his wife Sameera Zumani and film actress Monica Bedi.
The third additional special court for CBI cases held him guilty of charges under several sections of the IPC, for obtaining passports under fictitious names and addresses in Kurnool district in 2001. Mr. Salem was present in the court when the judgment was pronounced by Judge M.V. Ramana Naidu.
Senior public prosecutor of the CBI, T.V. Ramana said Mr. Salem had already spent over six years in jail in the case. The legal counsel for Mr. Salem said they would appeal against the order in the High Court.
Of the 10 accused in the case, Mr. Salem is the fifth accused to be convicted so far.
Two others have been acquitted and three others, including Mr. Salem’s first wife and two private persons (passport agents), are absconding.
Mr. Salem had procured a fake passport for himself under the fictitious identity of Ramil Kamil Malik. He had submitted forged documents to the Regional Passport Office here in connivance with some officials and private persons.
Mr. Salem was sentenced to seven-years imprisonment for criminal conspiracy and cheating under Sections 120b read with 420 and a fine of Rs. 1,000 for each charge.
He was also sentenced to one-year imprisonment each under Sections 419, 468 and 471 of the IPC.
