1993 Mumbai blasts case: CBI seeks life term for Abu Salem in TADA court

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday sought a life term for 1993 Mumbai serial blast case convict Abu Salem, a month after a Mumbai court pronounced him guilty, reported India Today. [caption id=“attachment_2388370” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File image of Abu Salem. PTI[/caption] In the report, it is mentioned that Salem was extradited from Portugal in 2005 under Section 34C of the Extradition Act under which he cannot be given capital punishment. Regardless of that, the special prosecutor said that Salem deserved death penalty. CBI’s counsel Deepak Salvi demanded life sentence for Salem, reports The Deccan Herald. Zee News said that the submission was made by the special public prosecutor during an argument on the quantum of sentence before TADA Court. On 16 June , a special Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) court found prime accused Abu Salem, Mustafa Dossa, Firoz Khan, Tahir Merchant and Karimullah guilty of conspiracy, murder and terror charges. Salem was accused of transporting weapons from Gujarat to Mumbai. He also handed over actor Sanjay Dutt, who was an accused in the case for illegally possessing weapons, AK-56 rifles, 250 bullets and some hand grenades at his residence on 16 January, 1993. Two days later, on 18 January, 1993, Salem and two others went to Dutt’s house and got back two rifles and some rounds. The court had dropped certain charges against Salem in 2013 after the CBI moved a plea, saying those charges were against the extradition treaty between India and Portugal.