SC rejects Abu Salem's plea to quash proceedings against him(Update:Abu)

The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed gangster Abu Salem's plea to quash trials against him following the Portugal top court's decision to terminate his extradition to India.

The apex court while passing its order said the verdict of Portugal's constitutional court is not binding on us, and added that Salem's extradition is still valid in the eyes of law.

Salem had filed the application after the Portugal Supreme Court upheld the order of a lower court in that country, terminating his extradition after it concluded that India had violated the deportation rules in Salem's case.

A bench headed by Chief Justice P. Sathasivam had reserved the verdict on July 9, saying it would pass the order after considering the CBI's submission that the agency was willing to withdraw certain charges against Salem under the TADA and the Explosive Substances Act.

Attorney General GE Vahanwati had said government was committed to its assurance given to the Portuguese court and sought the apex court's permission to drop the additional charges framed against Salem by the trial court.

The agency sought withdrawal of charges under section 5 and 6 of TADA and sections 4(b) and 5 of the Explosive Substances Act.

Salem was arrested in Lisbon in 2002 along with his girlfriend, actor Monica Bedi, for travelling with fake passports. He was extradited from Portugal three years later for his alleged role in the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts.