BOMBAY, 10 December 2005 — Leading Hindi film actor Sanjay Dutt, accused of having a close relationship with the underworld and Abu Salem, yesterday appeared with the gangster in a special TADA court. The two did not speak to each other.
Abu Salem, accused of masterminding the 1993 Bombay serial blasts that killed hundreds of people and injured many others, is also accused of providing an AK-56 rifle to Dutt, who is one of the nearly 100 people accused in the blasts case.
Dutt was present at the designated Terrorists And Disruptive Activities (TADA) court here for a regular attendance, while Abu Salem was produced as the court had decided to amend charges against him.
Abu Salem, a former aide turned rival of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, was extradited to India Nov. 11 by Portugal along with his companion — former actress Monica Bedi.
While Dutt occupied the last seat in the court, Abu Salem was seated close to the lawyers and court staff, away from rest of the accused and cordoned by officials of the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) of the Bombay Police.
Dutt and Abu Salem neither exchanged pleasantries nor made any eye contact with each other.
