Pronouncing the verdict Chief Judicial Magistrate R. J. Singh said the sentence would be announced on Nov. 19. He can be sentenced to imprisonment ranging between two and seven years.
After prosecutor Yogesh Pancholi presented a written argument on Nov. 1, the court had fixed Nov. 16 as the date for announcing the verdict.
Salem was brought to the Bhopal district and sessions court amid tight security. Salem had earlier been brought to Bhopal central jail from Mumbai's Arthur Road jail last month on Oct. 28. He is likely to remain in the Bhopal prison until the sentence is announced.
On Nov. 28, 2001, a First Information Report was registered at the Koh-e-Fiza Police Station in Bhopal against Salem, his wife Samira Jumani and actress Monica Bedi for having fake passports made at the regional passport office under the forged names of Danish Baig, Rubina Baig and Fauzia Osman respectively.
After his arrest, Salem was presented before the court on Nov.13, 2007. He was remanded to police custody. A charge sheet was submitted against him on Feb. 11, 2008, and charges were framed on June 16, 2009. Monica was acquitted earlier.
It may be pointed out here that the 42-year-old Salem was extradited from Portugal along with Monica in 2005 and has been lodged at Arthur Road jail since then. He is being tried for a total of nine cases out of which two are murder related.