A special court on Wednesday sentenced to life, gangster Abu Salem in the two decade-old murder of Mumbai builder Pradeep Jain.
In his first conviction under the stringent Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA), Salem was held guilty in Mr. Jain’s murder by the court on February 16. Additional Sessions Judge V.A. Sanap pronounced the order in which Salem was awarded the life sentence on charges of murder (302), 120 B (criminal conspiracy) and 3 (2) of TADA. Salem, who was deported from Portugal in 2005, was also fined Rs. 8 lakh in various cases.
Salem’s former driver Mehendi Hassan, who was also convicted of murder, attempt to murder and various provisions of TADA and IPC was also sentenced to life. Virendra Jhamb, a builder, was also convicted in the case on charges of extortion and criminal conspiracy. Salem who is currently lodged in Taloja Jail, is an accused in the 1993 Mumbai serial bombings case.
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On February 16, a special TADA court had convicted Salem. The prosecution sought death penalty for him, but special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam conceded that he could not be awarded death due to India’s extradition agreement with Portugal.
The prosecution then sought life imprisonment for Salem.