Salem sent to judicial custody till 7 Dec - NDTV.com - News on Salem sent to judicial custody till 7 Dec

Salem sent to judicial custody till 7 Dec
Wednesday, November 23, 2005

Mumbai : CBI handed underworld don Abu Salem over to Arthur Road Jail after the special court sent him to judicial custody for 16 days.

The investigating agency told the court that it is through with interrogating Salem, at least for now, in the 1993 Mumbai bomb blast case.

"CBI did not ask for Salem's custody to be extended, because we do not require him for investigations presently. We reserve our rights to recall him anytime," said Ujjwal Nikam, Special Public Prosecutor.

Salem was in CBI custody after his arrest on November 11 in the serial bomb blast case.

Just this Sunday, he had confessed that he supplied arms and explosives in connection with the 1993 serial blasts.

"We have applied to the court for a copy of Salem's confessions. But the judge will hear the case next on 7 December. That's when we'll know if we will get a copy," said Rashid Ansari, Abu Salem's lawyer.

Fear of safety

When asked if he had any complaints against CBI, Salem said he was just afraid of being tortured, if handed to the Mumbai Crime Branch.

He added that if provided a safe environment, he would rather stay in Arthur Road Jail.

When the judge repeatedly asked if there is a danger to Salem's life, the prosecution said a threat from the rival gang could not be brushed aside.

Only after taking the apprehensions of the defence into consideration, the judge decided to keep Salem in a high-security cell.

High-security jail

The high-security Arthur Road Jail is located in the heart of Mumbai. This overcrowded jail is home to gangsters from all the major Mumbai gangs of Chhota Rajan, Dawood Ibrahim, Chhota Shakeel and many more.

The D Company's roll call is headed by Dawood's brother Iqbal Kaska followed by Aijas Pathan, Saleem Kutta and Ehtesham Haji.

The Chhota Rajan gang's inmates are Saji Joseph, Vineet Yadav, Vicky Malhotra and Farid Tanasha.

D-company and Chhota Rajan's gangsters fought with stones and bricks leading to concerns about Salem's safety.

Others are worried that Salem may become active from inside the prison as it's happened in the past.

''People like Salem can flaunt their money and easily buy over people in the jail. The only out is to ensure that such accused are in the custody of very responsible people in the force," said Julio Ribeiro, Former Police Commissioner.

Provisions for Salem

The judge said that Salem should be kept in isolation in a cell and cannot be taken out without permission of the special court.

No other accused should be allowed within 15 metres of him, and he should be home food, medicines and a bed, he added.

The judge also ruled that Salem could meet his lawyers everyday for 15 minutes. The don was then given Rs 2000 to buy provisions from the prison canteen.

Builder's murder case

But it's not over for Abu Salem yet.

After the CBI, Salem will now be interrogated by the anti-terrorist squad of the Mumbai police, which is investigating the murder of builder Pradeep Jain.

Round two of questioning for Salem could begin as early as Thursday, as the anti-terrorist squad has already moved court for his custody.

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