Key witness against Abu Salem fails to depose again

Mumbai, Aug 18 (UNI) Prosecution witness number eleven, one of the key witnesses against extradited gangster Abu Salem in the separate '93 serial blasts case, today once again failed to appear before the Tada court, after the vehicle in which he was being brought here from Gujarat developed some technical fault.

The CBI informed the designated TADA Judge D U Mulla about this, and the court then adjourned further hearing till August 20 and issued fresh warrants, directing him to remain present on the said date.

The witness, who had recorded an important statment before the CBI for Salem's alleged involvement in the '93 blasts case, is at present lodged in a jail in Gujarat under some other charges.

He was supposed to depose before the court last week, but the police protection for carrying him to Mumbai was not available due to a high alert after the blasts in Ahmedabad.

UNI AAA GS SR RL AS1828