Order on separation of Salem's trial reserved

Mumbai, May 18: The Designated Tada Court at Mumbai today reserved its order till May 30 on a plea moved by CBI seeking court's permission to separate the trial of extradited gangster Abu Salem and his associate Riyaz Siddique from the trial of 123 accused including actor Sanjay Dutt.

Tada Judge P D Kode reserved his order following the arguments of CBI and defence concluded last week.

Earlier CBI, in its plea, sought permission on the grounds that 1993 serial bomb blast case had already concluded two years ago and the court was all set to deliver its verdict. Joining of the Salem trial with an already concluded trial would only defer the order process.

On the other hand, Salem's counsel Nitin Pradhan argued that according to the extraditing agreement between Portugal and India, Salem was supposed to be tried along with the other accused who are facing trial. Separation of Salem's trial would violate this agreement between both the countries, he said.

UNI