Lisbon, Oct 29: One of India's most wanted men, Abu Salem who is accused of masterminding bombings in Mumbai that killed more than 250 people, went on trial in Portugal today on forged document charges. Portuguese police arrested Salem, the subject of an international Interpol arrest warrant, along with his companion, little-known Indian film and television actress Monica Bedi, in Lisbon in September 2002.
The two were charged with possessing forged identity papers, which is punishable in Portugal by a fine or a suspended jail sentence, and have been awaiting trial in custody.
India has since requested that Portugal extradite Salem, an Indian Muslim who is believed to have helped orchestrate a wave of bombings that ripped through Mumbai's commercial district in March 1993.
As well as being wanted for the bombings, Salem is also wanted in India in connection with more than 60 cases of murder, extortion and kidnapping that mainly targeted Mumbai's film producers and stars.
Portugal's Supreme Court began considering the extradition request in a separate trial that began earlier this month.
Portugal and India do not have an extradition treaty and the case is complicated by the prohibition in the Portuguese Constitution of the deportation of suspects to nations where they could face the death penalty.
India's Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani however has assured Portugal that Salem would not be given the death penalty if he were brought back to the country.
Bureau Report