Mumbai: Abu Salem, recently convicted in the 1993 Mumbai blasts case, sought permission from the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) court on Monday to marry.
The application said, “I humbly request to kindly consider (her application) and grant us permission to register and perform marriage under Special Marriage Act before the registrar.” Advocate Farhana Shah cited two judgements, one each from the Bombay High Court and Delhi High Court, to make the case that it is within the rights of a convict to get married.
As per news reports in 2015, Salem had ‘married’ the woman, who is from a woman from Mumbra, in Thane district, over a phone call while he was on a train journey. Following the report, the TADA court had directed the Thane Police to conduct an inquiry.
The woman, who said that she has lost her reputation because of the news piece, filed an application that said: “I am known as Abu Salem’s wife in our area and among my relatives. Wherever I go, I am pointed out as Abu Salem’s wife; it has become difficult for me to go anywhere. Even our relatives are pointing fingers at me and my family; I feel like committing suicide as no other alternate is left for me due to such cheap publicity. As I have been defamed without any rhyme or reason, I would like to now take a bold step and get married to the said person Abu Salem.”
Salem had said that he wanted to marry her so she could “meet and answer all the relatives, friends and well-wishers with her head up in the society.” He said he intended to ‘compensate’ the woman by accepting her proposal.
Abu Salem Abdul Qayoom Ansari was convicted on June 16 thus year of being one of the main conspirators in the Mumbai bomb blasts of 1993. He was very close to co-accused Anees Ibrahim Kaskar (Dawood Ibrahim’s brother, an absconding accused in the same case) and had knowingly facilitated the transportation and supply of arms and ammunitions for intended terrorist activities. He had been extradited from Portugal to stand trial in the case. The prosecution has sought a life sentence for the gangster, who is already in jail for the murder of builder Pradeep Jain.
