Five associates of Abu Salem acquitted in firing case

Mumbai, Jun 6 (UNI) Five associates of extradited underworld don Abu Salem were today acquitted of charge of firing at the office of film producer and director of Imax, Manmohan Shetty, at Andheri in North West Mumbai in 2001 due to lack of evidence.

While pronoucing the judgement here, Additional Sessions Judge P V Ganediwala said the accused -- Mohammed Gaurd Ismail Siddique, Salim Hussain Jamdar, Asif Abkar Hussain Shaikh, Shiraj Ismail Shaikh and Khadruddin Kadari -- were all acquitted charges in the case due to lack of evidence.

Judge Ganediwala said there was no corrobroative evidence in the case and wintness also turned hostile during the course of trial.

Defence advocate Ashish Sharma said Salem had demanded extortion money from Mr Shetty. But, he refused to pay the amount. Thereafter, he had hired these people to kill him.

Police had received information about elimination of Mr Shetty and they had recorded mobile phone conversation between the accused and Mr Shetty. On May one, 2001, when these people went to commit the crime, the watchdog police nabbed them.

Prosecution have examined 13 witnesses in the case.

UNI ST SSS GL AS1811