Mumbai: Special TADA Court Judge G.A. Sanap, who is hearing arguments on the quantum of sentence for convicts in the 1993 blasts case, has issued a notice to the Delhi Police to file a reply in a case registered in 1998 against blasts convict Abu Salem.
Based on information that the Delhi Police had approached the Special TADA Court on July 4 to seek his custody, Salem moved an application on Wednesday asking how it could try for his custody in a 19-year-old case. His application said giving Delhi police custody would be in violation of the extradition treaty signed with Portugal before he could be brought to India to face trial.
In the case registered in 1998, Salem and co-accused Romesh Sharma, who was allegedly working for global terrorist and Mumbai underworld figure Dawood Ibrahim, are accused of threatening businessmen Vinay Singh and Malkiyat Singh. According to Delhi Police, Salem had also threatened employees of a private firm, and an FIR was lodged at Hauz Khas police station.
Meanwhile, the defense in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case began its argument on the quantum of sentence by opposing death penalty to Taher Merchant after the prosecution concluded its arguments on Wednesday.
Appearing before the Special TADA Court, advocate Sudeep Pasbola said Taher Mohammad Merchant alias Taher Taklya was not a key conspirator in the blasts as he was not aware of the entire conspiracy like Yakub Memon. Special Public Prosecutor Deepak Salvi had earlier said Merchant had organised and participated in meetings held in Dubai to plan the 1993 blasts.
The arguments will continue on July 6.
