Abu Salem files fresh plea to cancel his extradition order
MUMBAI: Underworld don Abu Salem has once again moved the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), pleading to cancel his extradition to India and transfer him back to Portugal.
In his fresh plea, Salem claimed his conviction in the 1993 blasts case is yet another breach of the extradition order by the Indian government.
Abu Salem has, through his lawyer, written a second letter to the ECHR, which Hindustan Times is in possession of, against the Indian government, for violating his extradition order and also against the Portuguese government for its inaction. He had first approached the ECHR in June last year, claiming the trial conducted in the 1993 blasts case was a violation of his extradition order.
In his fresh plea, Salem has now raised questions on the verdict of the TADA court in the case. Salem was held guilty by the TADA court on June 16, 2017, and on September 7, 2017, it sentenced him to 25 years of imprisonment.
“Indeed by decisions dated June 16 and September 7, 2017, the applicant has been convicted for charges that are additional and completely exceed the order of extradition given by the Portuguese government,” reads Salem’s letter dated January 2.
Now, Salem has pleaded that the Portuguese government should take action against the Indian government as the latter failed to respect the commitment and ask for his return.
In the letter running into four pages, Salem claimed the Portugal government had authorised India to prosecute him only in nine cases.
But the letter claimed ‘since he [Salem] has been extradited to India, the applicant has already been convicted for 32 new crimes and additional charges.’
IN HIS FRESH PLEA, SALEM HAS NOW RAISED QUESTIONS ON THE VERDICT OF THE TADA COURT IN THE CASE