Court orders probe into Salem's TV interview

Mumbai, Oct 4 (UNI) A day after taking a serious notice of on-camera interview of gangster and Mumbai serial bomb blasts accused Abu Salem telecast by a satellite television channel on September 29, TADA court judge Pramod Kode today asked CBI prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam to find out if it amounted to contempt of court.

The judge passed the order when Arthur Road jail official Swati Sathe submitted a video-casettee (VCD) of the interview in the court, saying it was recorded in the court premises and not in the jail. The court , which has been delivering verdict in the blasts case since September 12, is located in the jail premises for security reasons.

Without fixing any time-frame, Mr Nikam was asked by Mr Kode to examine the VCD and file reply.

Ms Sathe submitted the VCD in view of the court's earlier order that Salem, who is in custody since his extradition to India in November last year, be kept in a separate cell and not allowed to mix up with other jail inmates.

Yesterday when the issue was brought to the notice of the court, Mr Kode had asked the TV channel reporter to identify himself in the court. He then ordered a ban on cameras in the court premises and warned that if any reporter was found with one, permission to him to cover proceedings of the court would be withdrawn and his entry prohibited.

It is understood that Salem was interviewed on camera on September 29 when he learnt of the conviction of his friend Monica Bedi by a Hyderabad court in a passport forgery case.

When Nikam informed the court on Friday that the former Bollywood actor was sentenced to five years' jail term in the forgery case, a grim-faced Salem looked at the prosecutor but did not say any thing.

Salem's reaction on Bedi's conviction was subsequently sought and recorded the same day. But it could not be ascertained if the interview was recorded in the court premises or in the jail.

He was brought to the court room that day for extension of his judicial remand and also for hearing the application of Delhi police who has sought his remand in an extortion case.

Entry to the court is restricted and media personnel have been issued special passes to cover the proceedings.

UNI XR SA SY KN2052