Date:14/12/2002 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2002/12/14/stories/2002121404430101.htm

Front Page

Formal request for Salem extradition

By Vinay Kumar

NEW DELHI DEC. 13. India today sent a formal request to Portugal for the extradition of the underworld don, Abu Salem, one of the main accused in the 1993 Bombay blasts case, lodged in a prison in Lisbon for the past three months. The request is accompanied by an assurance from the Government that Salem would not be awarded capital punishment, if convicted, by the courts in India.

The CBI Director, P.C. Sharma, said that an official of the agency was leaving for Lisbon today. The assurance has been given under Section 34 (i) of the Extradition Act. According to the Portugese law, no person could be extradited to another country where the wanted could be handed down death penalty. The request gives details of three CBI cases, four of the Delhi Police and two cases registered by the Mumbai Police against Salem. The don was arrested in Lisbon on September 18 along with his girlfriend and former movie star, Monica Bedi.