Thaindian News

New Delhi, Aug 19 (IANS) A city court Tuesday granted more time to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to explain why underworld don Abu Salem was extradited, instead of being deported, from Portugal in 2005 to face trial in several criminal cases, including the 1993 Mumbai blasts case.CBI deputy inspector general (DIG) K. Kamraj appeared before Additional Sessions Judge Ravinder Kaur and submitted that the agency be given more time to file its response.

The court allowed the plea and fixed the matter for Aug 30.

Earlier, the court had issued notice to the CBI director after Additional Solicitor General Vikas Singh submitted that Salem’s case was actually that of deportation as he was caught in Portugal for using forged travel documents.

In case of deportation, the Portuguese government could not have put several restrictions on Indian authorities such as the number of cases on which Salem could be tried and the quantum of sentence, the ASG said, prompting the court to issue notice to the CBI.

The ASG, who on behalf of Delhi Police sought the MCOCA charges against Salem be dropped, was responding to a court query as to why the central government went for Salem’s extradition instead of deportation.

The extradition was conditional and there were restrictions on the number of cases on which Salem could be tried and the quantum of sentence - there would have been no such conditions if he were deported.

The central government had given an executive assurance to the Portuguese government that after Salem’s extradition he would not be tried in more than five criminal cases, which may invite imprisonment exceeding 25 years.