Monica in judicial custody till Nov 25

Monica, Abu Salem and his wife Shabana are alleged to have obtained passports on fictitious names and addresses in Kurnool, a district headquarter town, in September 2002. Monica used the passport to flee to Portugal where she was nabbed with Abu Salem later that year. Four government employees from Kurnool have been suspended in the case while Hameed, a passport agent, is at large.

Defence advocate O S Siddique told mediapersons that the CBI has charged Monica with impersonation, forgery and cheating. ‘‘The judge has given us time till Tuesday to file the response,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, sources said the CBI questioned Monica on Abu Salem’s operations and contacts in Andhra Pradesh for five hours in the morning. The agency, sources added, asked her if a former cricketer had any link with Abu Salem and Monica and whether he supported the two fugitives financially at any time.

Sources said all through the questioning, Monica is believed to have feigned ignorance and claimed that she was innocent. She expressed fear of threat to the lives of her parents who are staying in Norway. ‘‘Monica failed to throw much light on their local contacts. We need to question her further,’’ a CBI official told Sunday Express.