Abu Salem

Mumbai, Sept. 27: Portugal high court has terminated the extradition order under which underworld don Abu Salem was brought to India to stand trial in the 1993 Bombay serial blasts case.

The court withdrew its 2005 extradition order on September 19 following a petition by Salem alleging Indian authorities had violated certain conditions of the extradition, according to CBI officials and Salem’s Mumbai-based lawyer Sudeep Pasbola.

CBI spokesperson Dharini Mishra said in New Delhi: “Salem had alleged that though he had been extradited in connection with the Bombay serial blasts case, he had been charged with lesser offences like attempt to murder etc by the Mumbai court. As far as we are concerned, this is not a violation.”

Mishra said an appeal would be filed through the ministry of external affairs in the Portugal Supreme Court challenging the latest order, indicating that Salem would remain in jail for now.

Salem’s lawyer Pasbola said: “Abu Salem had made a plea before Portugal high court that the Indian authorities had violated what is called the principle of speciality by slapping additional charges which were not part of the extradition order.”

The underworld don is now lodged in Taloja jail in Navi Mumbai.