Now, Monica Bedi writes to Kalam for help

Underworld don Abu Salem8217;s girlfriend Monica Bedi, facing an extradition trial from Portugal, has written to President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam seeking pardon and cancellation of criminal proceedings against her initiated by the CBI and giving her a 8216;8216;second chance8217;8217;.

The handwritten letter was received by the President8217;s Secretariat recently, seeking pardon for the mistake of forging a passport at Hyderabad. Bedi, who completed her two-year sentence in Portugal on September 17 this year and continues to be in judicial custody, said she was apologetic but was scared to return as this would seal her fate and she would not be able to see her parents settled in Norway.

The President8217;s spokesman, S.M. Khan, confirmed the receipt of the letter and said it had been sent to the home secretary and foreign secretary 8216;8216;for action as may deem appropriate8217;8217;.

The little-known Bollywood actress who was sentenced in Portugal for entering that country on forged documents, had written a similar letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, which has been sent to the CBI. The actress, in her letter, said Salem had forced her to secure a forged passport but that she had never used it while going out from India or during her stay in Dubai.