Tuesday, August 9 2005 16:24 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Clearing the decks for bringing back underworld don Abu Salem's girl friend Monica Bedi, the Portuguese High Court has passed an order allowing her extradition to India, CBI sources said in New Delhi today (Aug 9, 2005).

In the order passed recently, the Portuguese High Court order has removed another hurdle in her extradition in a case relating to forgery of passport in Bhopal, the sources said.

The little-known bollywood actress could now approach the Supreme Court and then the Constitutional court of Portugal challenging the extradition order, the sources said adding the agency would oppose any such move.

The CBI has alleged that Bedi had got a passport made for herself from Regional Passport Office of Bhopal in the name of Fauzia Usman.

According to extradition laws, India will have to seek Portugal court's consent in every heinous crime cases.

A similar case of passport forgery from Madhya Pradesh was pending against Abu Salem, wanted in connection with the 1993 Mumbai serial bomb blast case, in the High Court of Portugal.

The Constitutional court has already cleared the decks for Salem's extradition to India to stand trial in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case.

While seeking their extradition, Indian Government had given an executive assurance to Portuguese Government that Salem would not be awarded death sentence if found guilty of the charges against him. Salem is wanted for trial in major offences like the serial blasts of Mumbai in 1993, which left 257 dead.