MCOCA charges to be dropped against Salem

Allowing a Delhi Police petition against the slapping of Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act charges on underworld don Abu Salem, the Delhi High Court on Friday quashed an order by a designated lower court here on framing the charges under the Act.

Salem is facing prosecution in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts. The city police had sought dropping of the charges in the backdrop of the Lisbon High Court in Portugal and later the Supreme Court there terminating the extradition of the underworld don for breach of the extradition conditions by India by booking him under MCOCA.