Fake passport case trial involving Abu Salem deferred till July 12

A Special CBI court here today deferred trial in the fake passport case involving underworld don Abu Salem to July 12.

The court today recorded the statement of a passport official at the Regional Passport office (Hyderabad) and posted the matter to July 12 following a request from the defence counsel.

During examination by the court, the passport official Ram Prabhakar verified all the relevant records and confirmed that the passport was issued in the name of Ramil Kamil Malik, whose name Salem allegedly impersonated and obtained the passport.

"The passport official identified his signature on relevant documents and confirmed that the passport was issued in the name of Ramil Kamil Malik," CBI's senior counsel T Venkatramana told PTI, adding with this, the court has, so far, recorded the statements of 35 prosecution witnesses.

Four more witnesses, including two investigating officials and two private persons, will appear before the court for their examination against Salem, the CBI counsel said.

Salem, was brought to the court amidst high security and was later taken to Bhopal in connection with another case, sources said.

The trial against the gangster for obtaining a passport on fictitious name in 2001 from Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh began on June 18 last year after CBI filed a case against him and others.