1993 Mumbai blasts case: Lawyer seeks lighter sentence to Abu Salem

Lawyer said Salem spent 15 yrs in jail & contended that he cannot be kept in jail beyond 25 years

The lawyer of 1993 Mumbai serial blast convict Abu Salem on Monday began his arguments and sought lesser sentence to the extradited gangster before the special Tada court.

Salem's lawyer Sudeep Passbola told the court that some of the convicts, sentenced in the first set of trial, were awarded eight years imprisonment for the offence committed which was similar to what Salem was tried for.

The lawyer said Salem has been in jail for the last 15 years, contending his detention period should be counted since the time he was detained in Portugal in 2002.

The lawyer said he was entitled to a set-off as the extradition treaty says that he cannot be kept in jail for over 25 years.

The court will continue to hear the arguments tomorrow.

The special court had on June 16 convicted six persons and acquitted one in the case.