The Hindu : Portugal decision on Salem extradition after probe: CBI

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 30, 2002

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Portugal decision on Salem extradition after probe: CBI

NEW DELHI DEC. 29. Cancelling the resident work permit and extending the judicial remand of the underworld don, Abu Salem, wanted in connection with the 1993 Mumbai blasts, the Portuguese authorities are considering the Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) extradition request and would take a decision on this after their probe was over.

``We handed over the extradition request to the Portuguese authorities and they have also confirmed to us in writing that Abu Salem's judicial remand had been extended by another 90 days,'' the CBI Director, P.C. Sharma, has said.

Mr. Sharma said the authorities in Lisbon had told ``our officer that they would examine our request and also in the meantime extend the judicial remand of the accused to evade fears of his disappearance from the country.'' Cancellation of the work permit of Salem and extension of his judicial remand were heartening developments. The extension of judicial remand came close on the heels of the CBI sending an official with a formal extradition request where the agency has listed his involvement in three CBI cases, four cases with the Delhi police and two cases registered against him by the Mumbai police. The request, which gave an executive assurance to the Portuguese authorities of not awarding Salem capital punishment in case of his conviction by Indian courts, highlighted his role in the conspiracy leading to the Mumbai bomb blasts.

In its request, the CBI said ".... Abu Salem is an associate of Anees Ibrahim Kaskar and at his instance procured nine AK-56 rifles for continuing terrorist acts in Mumbai in 1993.'' Abu Salem later parted ways with Anees and the Dawood Ibrahim gang and started his own business. The CBI has also alleged that he had handed over an AK-56 rifle to the bollywood actor, Sanjay Dutt.

Asked what were the chances of Salem's extradition, Mr. Sharma said ``well, extradition is a sovereign decision of the country. We can try and hope for the best.''

About Salem's role with terrorist groups such as the Al-Qaeda, he said, "I have no information on that but let me make it clear that such undesirable people don't come up so fast because of their hard work but because of some undercover links."

PTI

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