Abu Salem alleges violation of extradition order

The gangster’s legal team alleged they had submitted a plea in court stating that Abu Salem cannot be arrested or tried in the Bhopal murder case as it was not mentioned in the list of cases that warranted his extradition

Gangster Abu Salem has alleged violation of his extradition order by the government for booking him in a murder case in Bhopal, calling it an illegal detention. Salem has moved a plea before the TADA court, Mumbai, after receiving several production warrants from the Bhopal court.

The gangster was extradited by the Government of Portugal on September 11, 2005, on the request of the Government of India for various offences mentioned in the extradition order. In June 2007, the Bhopal court issued a production warrant for Salem in a murder case related to an internal gang war. Salem, in his reply to the warrant, raised an objection before the court stating he cannot be booked.

The gangster’s legal team alleged they had submitted a plea in court stating that Salem cannot be arrested or tried in the case as it was not mentioned in the list of cases that warranted his extradition, said sources, adding that his arrest in the said case would amount to violation of the extradition order of the Portugal court.

Salem had, in August 2014, moved a writ petition before the Madhya Pradesh high court challenging the procedure of the Bhopal court. While the petition is pending and scheduled for hearing next month, the gangster also moved special TADA court, where he is facing a trial in the 1993 serial bomb blasts case.

Salem had filed the application before the TADA court after he continued to receive production warrants from the Bhopal court.

Sudeep Pasbola, Salem’s advocate, said they filed an application before the TADA court last month. “The court has now issued a notice to the ministry of external affairs through the CBI seeking clarification. However, we are yet to receive a reply on the case,” said Pasbola.

The TADA court had asked the Central Bureau of Investigation — a nodal agency for extradition — to submit a reply on the gangster’s plea and give clarification on the extradition order. However, the CBI failed to take steps and the Bhopal court continued to issue production warrants to the gangster.