BANGALORE: The course of the investigation into the cases against extradited gangster Abu Salem "will have a new direction" following the three tests he had undergone, according to Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Anti-Terrorist Squad of Mumbai, Jaijit Singh.

"I will not comment on the results of the tests but what we learned has changed the course of our investigation," Mr. Singh told presspersons on Friday. He expected the test results with transcripts and video recordings on Monday.

Assistant Director of the Forensic Science Laboratory here S. Malini said: "All the tests, the lie detector (polygraph), brain mapping and narco-analysis, were successful. We should be sending our detailed report tomorrow to Mumbai."

Salem, who was subjected to lie detector and brain mapping tests in the past couple of days, was brought to the Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital at 9.20 a.m. for narco-analysis test.

After preliminary medical tests and counselling, he was injected with thiopentone sodium (truth serum). He went into a subconscious state and began answering the questions asked by police. Nearly 60 questions were put to him, sources said.

Speaks freeely

By 11.30 a.m., he was speaking freely and answering questions in detail, disclosing a wealth of information on underworld activities; even revealing details of the incidents that happened 15 years ago. He was "unstoppable" for three hours and "gave all information that was wanted," the sources said.

He elaborated on the statement made before the Mumbai police. (He had disclosed in the statement the names of persons who were part of his chain of collection and distribution of extorted money.)

Salem was said to have spoken about his role in the 1993 serial bomb blasts in Mumbai and also the alleged delivery of firearms to Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt.

The narco-analysis ended around 2.30 p.m. and it took four hours for him to recover from the effects of the drug, the police said. The statements made by him were recorded. The Mumbai police team left for Mumbai with Salem . Security was tight at the hospital on Friday.

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