Court adjourns plea to relieve Abu Salem of MCOCA

New Delhi, Mar 7: A city court today adjourned the hearing of a plea by Delhi police, seeking withdrawal of charges under MCOCA against underworld don Abu Salem, till March 24.

Salem is facing MCOCA (Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act) in connection with an extortion call made to a Delhi business-man Askok Gupta in 2002. The Delhi police had booked him for demanding Rs 50 crore from Gupta. However, on February 27, 2008 Delhi police moved an application before Special Judge Ravinder Kaur in view of the settled legal position that an extradited fugitive can not be prosecuted for any offence, he has not been extradited for.

He was extradited to India in 2005 to face trial in eight cases. The city police contended that the move to withdraw MCOCA charges were aimed to ensure that no adverse order were passed against the Government of India by the Supreme Court of Portugal from where the accused has been extradited.

Additional Sessions Judge Ravinder Kaur adjourned the matter till March 24 for further hearing.

UNI