High court issues notices to Centre, Delhi govts in Salem case

New Delhi, June 8 (UNI) The Delhi High Court today issued notices to the Central and Delhi Governments, and Delhi Police Commissioner to explain as why terms of underworld don Abu Salem's extradition agreement were being violated.

A vacation bench comprising Justices R S Sodhi and G S Sistani ordered the Secretary, External Affairs and Delhi Police to reply the notices by July 23.

Salem had in a writ petition challenged a Delhi court order sending him in police remand in a MCOCA case.

Issuing the notices, the court asked the respondents to reply why he was being tried in another case when he has been extradited from Portugal for trial in Mumbai bomb blasts case.

According to Abu Salem's lawyer Arvind Kumar Shukla, the don was extradited from Portugal with the help of New York Convention as there was no formal extradition treaty between India and Portugal.

Solemn assurance was given by the Indian Government, through its Ambassador to Portugal, that Salem would not be tried for any other offence other than for which the extradition was granted.

The Indian Ambassador also assured that Abu Salem and his wife Monica would not be given death penality or imprisonment for more than 25 years.

Salem was brought here from Mumbai in a case of extortion from a businessman. He was produced before the Patiala House Court and remanded to judicial custody till July 2.

Salem, also an accused in the 1993 Bombay serial blasts case was brought to Delhi in pursuance of production warrant issued by a Delhi court against him on April 17.

Salem has challanged this order saying this is the gross voilation of his fundamental rights as the state cannot try him for any other case, other than the one for which he has been extradited.

UNI