Lisbon arrest of Abu Salem and Monica Bedi

The Lisbon arrest of Abu Salem and Monica Bedi on 20 September 2002 brought a sudden and dramatic end to what Bedi later described as an endless honeymoon. The couple had been living in the Portuguese capital after escaping across the world, visiting many places and meeting people who did not look at them as criminals on the run but just ordinary people. The trip had done a world of good to their relationship, and Bedi had completely forgotten the fact that they had an Interpol notice slapped against them. Then, on that September morning, the doorbell rang. They usually did not have people over, and if they did, they were informed beforehand. Salem told her that it would be better if she checked who their visitor was. Little did she know that she was opening the door to a five-year-long nightmare. A huge phalanx of police officers was standing at her doorstep, having surrounded their home. Salem tried to resist, but they had no option but to surrender.

The Scene at Lisbon Airport

The arrest was followed by a transfer that unfolded like a scene from a film. The police convoy cut across the runway at Lisbon airport, its blaring sirens not raising even one eyebrow amidst the din. The gun-toting guards accompanying the convoy gave the impression of it being a mobile fortress. The cars screeched to a halt, and officers of the Policia Judicia stepped out, escorting a thirty-six-year-old man dressed in a black T-shirt and track pants. He had a stooping gait and seemed to be smiling nervously. The Portuguese police spoke to him before he was taken over to the eagerly waiting contingent of Indian officials. For a moment, deputy superintendent of police, Special Task Force, CBI Devendra Pardesi, could not believe his eyes. He had handled tough cases and tougher criminals, but this one seemed a bit unreal. The man the Portuguese police was handing over just did not fit the bill of one of Mumbai's most dreaded gangsters—someone who had masterminded some of the most gruesome murders in the annals of Mumbai crime history. Pardesi had barely collected his thoughts when the occupant of the second car stepped out. Just as in the movies, a policeman held the door open as a woman's legs emerged from the vehicle and daintily settled on the tarmac, toes first and then the heels as she climbed gracefully out of the car. Her fair skin appeared pale and almost translucent in the afternoon heat. Tall and slim, she had very delicate features that were strained at the moment as she clutched a Bible like it was a lifesaver. Her long, thin legs and narrow waist were emphasised in the figure-hugging T-shirt and jeans that she wore.

Life on the Run and the World Tour

The arrest was the culmination of a period of flight that had begun with the couple's escape from India. Before settling in Lisbon, they had gone on a world tour, visiting a lot of places and meeting many people along the way. Bedi specifically remembered their six-day trip to Amsterdam. Salem had gone ahead and she followed him after a few days. He met her at the airport with a beautiful bouquet of roses. Later, in the restaurant, he constantly whispered sweet nothings into her ear. He also gifted her a nightgown, after which they made love in their hotel room. Everything was so beautiful. She was surprised by his sudden affection; she did not know that a man like him could also love so passionately. She could see that Salem was trying his best to woo her back into his life. In the days to come, he became more possessive and respectful towards her, and it was not long before she had fallen in love with him once again. After those memorable days in different parts of the world, they escaped to Lisbon in Portugal. Days became weeks and weeks, months; life had become one endless honeymoon for them. Her parents also visited them and were genuinely fond of Salem.

Imprisonment and the Portuguese Trial

After their arrest, they were kept in separate cells but were allowed to meet only once a week. The first few days were extremely rough for Bedi. Her jail inmates were very disturbing. Unlike her, they were hardcore criminals and aggressive by nature. She hardly interacted with any of them. She was also worried for Salem, knowing that the arrest would have affected him badly; he had always been scared of being thrown into the slammer. Fortunately, unlike Indian jails, the Lisbon jail had telephones, so, even though there were restrictions, they kept in touch with each other occasionally. To keep him in good spirits, she began writing romantic letters to him. She used to refer to him as 'babu', while she would call herself his 'gudiya' (doll). These letters also acted as a way to channel her creativity. She wrote him poems and drew beautiful sketches of them together. On 20 November 2002, she wrote him a very special letter. It was their second wedding anniversary and they were away from each other. Tears rolled down her cheeks while writing to him. She was saddened by the fact that they were not in each other's arms that day but instead, in different cells. Meanwhile, the Indian government was informed of their arrest and talks of extradition began. Her family was also notified, and her brother and father hurriedly travelled to Lisbon in the hope of securing her release. However, they soon realised that it would be years before they would see her step out from prison. In 2003, a Portuguese court, where their case had come up for hearing, sentenced Bedi to two years' imprisonment for entering the country on forged documents. Salem, on the other hand, was sentenced to three years for entering Portugal on forged documents, two years for causing injury to a cop and resisting his arrest, and one year for perjury.

The Turning Point: Christianity and Drifting Apart

Bedi's father was visibly upset and would not speak to her, until his paternal instincts gave way and he broke down. He looked shattered. She had brought a lot of shame to the family and knew that there was nothing she could do to defend herself. The next two years in Lisbon were emotionally and mentally draining. There was not a single day when she was able to sleep peacefully. The years of isolation were taking a toll on her, and the battle to survive was eating her from within. The letters to Salem continued even after her family insisted she forget him. Love only acted as a healer, and she could not explain this to them. However, the continued loneliness had affected her badly, and she started seeking a crutch. This was when she found her calling. The prison authorities had arranged for Christian nuns to visit jail inmates thrice a week to help reform them. She would attend their sessions diligently. It was during this time that a nun, who had noticed her sinking into her own grief, advised her to turn to Christianity. The nun made her read certain passages in the Bible that actually had a soothing effect on her. She was soon drawn to the teachings of the Bible. She chose not to tell Salem about her inclination towards Christianity. Salem, who is a practising Muslim, had asked her to take up his religion for his sake, and she did not want to hurt his sentiments in any way. Her letters to him, though, reduced considerably, and they slowly drifted apart. The Bible had given her life a new direction.

Aftermath and the Road Back

The arrest and its aftermath marked a decisive rupture in Bedi's life, separating her permanently from the man she had loved. After her release, she rented a modest flat at Mulund in suburban Mumbai and began picking up the pieces of her life. She was determined to gain all that she had lost in Mumbai. During this time, she also gave a lot of interviews to the media to garner public sympathy and increase her support base. A year had passed since the ordeal, but Bedi was still living a life of obscurity. Then in 2008, Bigg Boss 2 happened. The reality show—along the lines of UK's Big Brother—was launched in India, several months before Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty won the Celebrity Big Brother title in UK in 2007. When the producers offered Bedi a chance to be part of the second season of the show in August 2008, she grabbed the opportunity. Within a few episodes, she managed to woo the other fourteen contestants and the audience. In one of the episodes, she broke down and said she needed the prize money because she was leading a hand-to-mouth existence. Her performance on national television won the heart of millions, including Congress Member of Parliament Sanjay Nirupam, who was one of the participants on the show. In fact, Nirupam promised to give her an apartment in the upmarket residential colony of Lokhandwala in Andheri. She was evicted from the show within a few weeks, only to return as a wild card entrant. What followed was more controversial fodder for the media, with stories of Bedi becoming romantically involved with another notorious participant and political heir Rahul Mahajan. The Lisbon arrest thus closed one chapter of her life—the chapter of Salem—and opened another, in which she would seek to redefine herself before the cameras of national television, still shadowed by the notoriety that the arrest had cemented.