New Delhi: In a setback to India, a court in Portugal has turned down its plea for extradition of underworld don Abu Salem's girlfriend Monica Bedi, prompting New Delhi to request the Portuguese government to file an appeal against the ruling.

The news of rejection of Bedi's extradition came as a surprise to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as it was almost certain that she, along with Salem, the main accused in the 1993 Mumbai bomb blast, would be extradited to India.

While rejecting the extradition request, the court in Lisbon had said that Bedi could be tried in Portugal as the offence committed by her in India was similar to that committed by her in that country, CBI sources said on July 18.

Portugal was also trying the duo for forging documents that enabled Salem to marry a local girl and Monica to a local man and subsequently procuring a resident work permit after the marriage.

India, meanwhile, has approached the Prosecutor General of Portugal for filing an appeal in a higher court challenging the trial court's order and clarifying that Monica had forged documents in this country, which led to her arrest in Lisbon.

Salem, his companion Monica Bedi and Syed Haider were arrested in Lisbon by Portuguese police on September 18 last year for staying in the country on the basis of forged documents.

Salem, whose extradition proceedings were also on in the same court, has submitted that he would be harassed if he was sent back. India has already sent its reply to the court disputing his submission.

PTI