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India seeks Abu Salem`s deportation: Advani
New Delhi, Sept 21: Home Minister L K Advani today told reporters in Bhubaneshwar that a note had been sent to the Portugese government seeking deportation of the dreaded gangster accused in a number of cases of murder and extortion and in the 1993 serial Mumbai blast. Three-month trail for Salem
New Delhi, Sept 21: Home Minister L K Advani today told reporters in Bhubaneshwar
that a note had been sent to the Portugese government seeking deportation of the dreaded gangster accused in a number of cases of murder and extortion and in the 1993 serial Mumbai blast.
India today formally sought deportation of underworld don Abu Salem, who along with his wife Monica Bedi were arrested in Lisbon with Pakistani passport, and is prepared to guarantee that he would not be given death penalty even as CBI planned to send a team next week to expedite the process. Advani said the Indian government would give in writing to the Portugal, a member of the European Union, that Salem, if deported, would not be given death penalty.
"In this case, it is possible and Indian law permits that the necessary assurance may be given to the concerned government," he said.
According to a convention to which EU countries are signatories, an accused cannot be deported to a country where he might be executed. In Delhi CBI joint director Ashwani Kumar told reporters that a CBI team was likely to be sent to Lisbon "early next week" to discuss with the Portugese authorities the deportation of Salem.
He said modalities on the exact timing and composition of the team are being worked out in consultations with the ministries of home and external affairs, the Indian ambassador in Lisbon and the Portuguese authorities. "The issue is being dealt with at the highest level and a team will be sent as expeditiously as possible," he said.
Kumar said Salem was produced before a court in Lisbon yesterday which sent him to 90-day judicial custody after being convinced through fingerprints and photographs that he was the fugitive wanted in many heinous cases.
Stating that "merely sending a team will not help," he said the team has to have proper assistance from the local police and lawyers and efforts were underway in this direction. To a question, Kumar said both deportation and extradition were under consideration of the government to bring Salem.
"The Portuguese authorities have told us to be ready for extradition but the way of deportation is also open," he said.
Highly placed official sources said Portugal has assured full cooperation to India.
India has also received cooperation from American law enforcement agencies in tracking down Salem, who has been elusive for the past nine years.
The sources said the Indian government knew that he was in Portugal and accordingly had alerted the government there.
Salem, who escaped to Karachi soon after the blasts, was arrested by the Portugese police for possessing forged documents.
"All his ten fingerprints matched those sent by the CBI to Lisbon," the sources said.
41-year-old Salem, who was arrested with his wife and another aide outside his house in Lisbon on Wednesday, has since been sent to 90 days judicial custody.
Bureau Report
India today formally sought deportation of underworld don Abu Salem, who along with his wife Monica Bedi were arrested in Lisbon with Pakistani passport, and is prepared to guarantee that he would not be given death penalty even as CBI planned to send a team next week to expedite the process. Advani said the Indian government would give in writing to the Portugal, a member of the European Union, that Salem, if deported, would not be given death penalty.
"In this case, it is possible and Indian law permits that the necessary assurance may be given to the concerned government," he said.
According to a convention to which EU countries are signatories, an accused cannot be deported to a country where he might be executed. In Delhi CBI joint director Ashwani Kumar told reporters that a CBI team was likely to be sent to Lisbon "early next week" to discuss with the Portugese authorities the deportation of Salem.
He said modalities on the exact timing and composition of the team are being worked out in consultations with the ministries of home and external affairs, the Indian ambassador in Lisbon and the Portuguese authorities. "The issue is being dealt with at the highest level and a team will be sent as expeditiously as possible," he said.
Kumar said Salem was produced before a court in Lisbon yesterday which sent him to 90-day judicial custody after being convinced through fingerprints and photographs that he was the fugitive wanted in many heinous cases.
Stating that "merely sending a team will not help," he said the team has to have proper assistance from the local police and lawyers and efforts were underway in this direction. To a question, Kumar said both deportation and extradition were under consideration of the government to bring Salem.
"The Portuguese authorities have told us to be ready for extradition but the way of deportation is also open," he said.
Highly placed official sources said Portugal has assured full cooperation to India.
India has also received cooperation from American law enforcement agencies in tracking down Salem, who has been elusive for the past nine years.
The sources said the Indian government knew that he was in Portugal and accordingly had alerted the government there.
Salem, who escaped to Karachi soon after the blasts, was arrested by the Portugese police for possessing forged documents.
"All his ten fingerprints matched those sent by the CBI to Lisbon," the sources said.
41-year-old Salem, who was arrested with his wife and another aide outside his house in Lisbon on Wednesday, has since been sent to 90 days judicial custody.
Bureau Report