First conviction for Abu Salem since extradition from Portugal

Mumbai February 16, 2015  (Agency) A special TADA court here on Monday convicted underworld don Abu Salem in the 1995 murder case of city-based builder Pradeep Jain.It is the first time that Salem has been convicted in any case involving him after he was deported to India in 2005 from Portugal.Jain was shot dead by assailants outside his Juhu bungalow on March 7, 1995 after he allegedly refused to part with his huge property to Salem.Salem, another builder Virendra Jhamb and Mehndi Hassan were on trial in the case which began in 2008. While accused Naeem Khan turned approver, another accused Riyaz Siddiqui, who had also become approver, later turned hostile in the court.Trial of



Siddiqui was later separated.The court, in January last year, had dropped some sections against Salem in the case after the prosecution sought for the same saying that some charges need to be withdrawn in order to maintain cordial relations between two sovereign countries - India and Portugal.Salem, an accused in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts, was extradited from Portugal on November 11, 2005, after a prolonged legal battle.The Supreme Court of Portugal, in 2012, had dismissed an appeal of the CBI which had challenged termination of his extradition. He has also moved Supreme Court of Portugal seeking directions to the Indian government to execute its order of cancelling his extradition.