SC refuses to stay trial in extortion case against Salem

New Delhi, Aug 6 (UNI) The Supreme Court today refused to stay the trial in extortion case against mafia don Abu Salem.

A bench comprising Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan, Justices Tarun Chatterjee and R V Ravindran however directed that in the final judgement the case shall not be pronounced, though the trial can go on.

Abu Salem had challenged the trial on the grounds that it was being conducted in violation of the assurance given by the Indian government to the Portugal government on July 11, 2004 while extraditing him to the country.

According to Salem, the government's request to try him for the offence under section 120 B, 387 ,382 IPC read with section 5 of TADA was expressly rejected by the Portugal government.

The petitioner had challenged the order of the TADA special judge dated April 16, 2007 framing charges against the appellant in case number 22 of 1995 in FIR number 144/95.

The court directed that the petition be tagged with another petition already pending in the court challenging the validity of the trial in another case allegedly in violation of term of extradition.

The court also issued notices to the state of Maharashtra.

UNI