CBI to make written submission seeking Salem's separate trial

Mumbai, Mar 30 (UNI) The Central Bureau of Investigation would submit on March 31 a written submission before the TADA court seeking permission to separate the trial of extradited gangster Abu Salem and his associate Riyaz Siddiqui.

On the same day, senior CBI counsel S Natrajan will argue on behalf of the CBI justifying the investigation agency's stand to separate the trial.

On the last day of hearing, chief public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam had sought time till March 31 to make a proper application before the court. The court had framed charges against Salem and Siddiqui under TADA, and Arms and Explosives act and under various sections of the Indian Penal Code on the same day.

Salem and Siddiqui, who are booked in connection with the serial blasts that rocked the metropolis on March 1993, had actively participated in the conspiracy of the blast and delivered weapons to the co-accused.

Earlier, in a confessional statement, Salem had admitted that he had delivered AK-56s to actor Sanjay Dutt at his residence at Bandra.

However, he later retracted the confessional statement and claimed that the statement was recorded under duress.

In response to the charges framed against them, both have pleaded not guilty and expressed their desire to face trial.

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