Abu brother to face fresh probe into wife's death

Lucknow, Sep 8: After underworld don Abu Salem, his sibling Abu Jais is under the police scanner with the ghost of an eight year old case set to haunt him.

Abu Jais may face a fresh probe by the Uttar Pradesh police over the death of his wife eight years ago under mysterious circumstances.

Jais' wife Bilkis had died in a Varanasi hospital on September 25 eight years ago, reportedly due to burn injuries.

After her death, her father Fayaaz Ahmed had approached the police, alleging murder of his daughter at the hands of Jais. But Fayaaz was reportedly forced to sign a 'sulahnama' with Jais, maintaining that Bilkis' husband was not involved in her death.

Fayaaz was allegedly forced to acquiese under pressure from the don.

But after the extradition of Salem from Portugal, Fayaaz approached the Azamgarh police seeking a fresh probe into the death of his daughter. Fayaaz perhaps concluded that a ''weak '' don would no longer be able to influence the case.

''The Azamgarh district police chief has assured Fayaaz to look into the case after going through the documents,'' Secretary (Home) R M Srivastava told UNI here.

Mr Srivastava claimed that the state government would extend all possible assistance to Fayaaz which was possible legally. ''We would also ask the SSP (Azamgarh) to find the documents petaining to the case and see whether it was possible to reinvestigate'' he added.

The development could hamper the plans of Abu Salem to contest the coming Assembly elections in UP from Mubarakpur seat in Azamgarh as in his absence his family members would be busy facing a possible inquiry into the eight year old murder case.

Another underworld don Omprakash alias Babloo Srivastava has claimed that he would contest the assembly polls from Mubarakpur if Abu Salem files his nominations for the seat.

Abu Salem is one of the conspirators of the Mumbai serial bomb blast case of 1993. He is accused of providing material support.

UNI