New Delhi, Apr 10: Buoyed by the Portuguese prosecutor-general clearing the case of the Mumbai bomb blast accused Abu Salem for extradition, the CBI is likely to send a team to Lisbon to extend all help to the authorities in Portugal to get the fugitive here.
CBI received an official communiqué through the Indian mission in Lisbon stating that the prosecutor-general's office had recommended to ministry of justice that Salem's case was fit for extradition.
Highly-placed CBI sources said the agency was in touch with the authorities in Lisbon through the Indian mission and ready to provide any help to the ministry of justice in filing the extradition request in the court.
"We may even depute someone to help them and may even hire a local lawyer as an aide to the government prosecutors in Lisbon," the sources said.
The team might comprise an official from the directorate of prosecution and a sleuth from the probe department.
Asked when was the extradition appeal expected to be filed in the Portuguese court, the sources said the Lisbon authorities were fast completing their investigation against Salem and the application could be filed after that.
The case, which would be a big boost to the CBI, is being closely monitored by director P C Sharma with additional director Vijay Shanker doing the necessary coordination.
On March 28, Portugal's prosecutor-general recommended extradition of Abu Salem, presently in judicial custody, and his girlfriend Monica Bedi to India.
The underworld don had been arrested, along with Bedi, in Lisbon following an Interpol Red Corner notice issued at the behest of the CBI on September 18. The CBI had also announced a cash reward of Rs 10 lakh for his arrest.
The Portugal government is trying Salem on four counts: procuring forged documents, marrying a local girl on the basis of these documents, obtaining a resident work permit on the same documents and obstructing police officials at the time of his arrest.
Bureau Report
