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New Delhi, July 27 (UNI) Mafia don Abu Salem, who is facing trial in 1993 Mumbai serial blasts conspiracy, has moved the Supreme Court challenging a Bombay High Court judgement setting aside the order of the TADA Court directing the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), Mumbai police to permit only two investigating officers, instead of five, to interrogate him.

The petition filed by Abu Salem Abdul Qayyum Ansari, who was extradited from Portugal after the Indian government gave a written assurance to the Portugese government that he will not be given death sentence in India, is coming up for hearing on July 31, 2006.

According to him, the order of the TADA Court can be challenged only in the apex court and the High Court has no jurisdiction under the TADA Act and hence the judgement passed by the Bombay High Court is void and cannot be sustained under law.

The chargesheet against Salem has already been filed after completion of the investigation.

Meanwhile, two petitions filed by his starlet wife, Monica Bedi, challenging her prosecution by Bhopal (MP) and Hyderabad (AP) court for allegedly using forged passport are also coming up for hearing in the Supreme Court on Monday.

She has challegned her prosecution on the grounds that she cannot be punished twice for the same offence as she had already been punished for them by other countries.

UNI AKS/SC PKS RP PC1548