Salem trial separated

Mumbai, Jun 13 (UNI) The designated TADA Court here today ordered to separate the trial of extradited gangster Abu Salem and his associate Riyaz Siddique from the trial of 123 serial blast accused which includes cine-star Sanjay Dutt.

Allowing the CBI plea, designated Judge P D Kode disagreed with the defence arguement that the separation of Salem trial would be in violation of the extradition conditions made between India and Portugal when the don was deported to the country.

The court, however, fixed July 3 for pronouncing the date of commencement of Salem and Siddique trial.

The court, in its much awaited order, also held that in future if any absconding accused is arrested or deported, his trial would be separated from the already concluded trial. The court has passed this order in response to the CBI plea to separate Salem and his associate's trial on the grounds that the trial of the 123 accused had already concluded two years ago and the court was all set to deliver its verdict in the lengthiest trial of the Indian Judiciary.

The CBI had also argued that clubbing of Salem case with the other accused would delay the order process.

The plea was strongly opposed by Salem's lawyer claiming that it would violate the extradition agreement. The court was told that when the don was deported to India, the Union Government had agreed to try Salem with the other accused.

UNI XR-ARM ADG MSJ GC2117