Abu Salem to be tried for making extortion calls

Underworld don Abu Salem would be tried for allegedly making extortion calls to two businessmen in the national capital as a Delhi court on Tuesday framed criminal charges against him in a seven-year-old case.

Underworld don Abu Salem would be tried for allegedly making extortion calls to two businessmen in the national capital as a Delhi court on Tuesday framed criminal charges against him in a seven-year-old case.

HT Image

Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Kaveri Baweja framed the charges relating to extortion, criminal intimidation and
criminal conspiracy against the gangster extradited from Portugal.

"On the basis of material on records, it appears that the accused had committed offences punishable under Section 120 (criminal conspiracy) read with Section 387 (extortion) of the IPC. Accused is charged separately with Section 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC," the court said.

Salem, sporting a black T-shirt and dark blue jeans, was brought to the capital's Tis Hazari courts from Bhopal amid tight security. Barricades were put up in an around the court complex while extra security personnel were deployed at all entry and exit points.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges and claimed the trial, after which the court adjourned the matter for July 21 for recording the statement of witnesses in the case.

Salem, who was extradited from Portugal in November, 2005, has been booked along with three others for making threat calls to Puneet Khanna and Rajat Nagrath, owner of Delhi-based Allied Communication, demanding Rs one crore in 2002.

Arvind Kumar Shukla, counsel for the accused, claimed there was insufficient evidence to frame charges in the case.