Underworld don Abu Salem confessed on Tuesday to murdering Pradeep Jain, a Mumbai builder, but, more significantly repeatedly named actor Sunjay Dutt in connection with the 1993 serial blasts.
The confession and the naming of Dutt reportedly came during his interrogation by the Anti-Terrorist Squad of the Mumbai Police. According sources in the squad, Salem spoke of Dutt's proximity to members of the Dawood gang and him prior to the blasts.
Salem has reportedly given details of the storage of arms and explosives at Dutt's Pali Hill bungalow. He repeated this before a magistrate making it all as official as it can get - as a part of his confession. Also, it corroborates CBI's allegations about Dutt's role.
When asked for his comment on the new revelations about Dutt and whether it would have any bearing on the serial blast trial now in progress in a TADA court, CBI counsel C S Sharma said, "All depends on the supplementary chargesheet which would be filed in the case by the CBI in the coming days."
On Pradeep Jain, who was killed in 1995, Salem is said to have confessed have played a role in it. He reportedly told his interrogators on Monday he wanted to come clean. He was then taken before an officer senior enough to record his confession.
Joint police commissioner (ATS) P S Raghuvanshi told PTI that Salem recorded his confession on Monday in front of competent officers. This is being forwarded to the TADA court hearing the case.
{{/usCountry}}Joint police commissioner (ATS) P S Raghuvanshi told PTI that Salem recorded his confession on Monday in front of competent officers. This is being forwarded to the TADA court hearing the case.
{{/usCountry}}This was Salem's second confession - the first was to his involvement in the 1993 serial blasts.