NEW DELHI, 27 November 2005 — Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Director U.S. Misra said yesterday that Abu Salem, the underworld don and one of the main accused in 1993 Bombay serial blasts, could be made an approver in the case, but that stage had not come yet.
Misra told reporters at the CBI headquarter here that the main accused of any case could be made an approver, but before that the accused had to make a confessional statement. “After this the CBI has to take the court’s approval in making any accused an approver,” Misra said and added “but that stage has not come as yet.”
Asked about the confession made by the extradited don before the CBI, the official said he had not yet seen the statement.
To a question whether Abu Salem would be tried only in eight cases, Misra said that when Abu Salem was detained in Portugal, the CBI received cases from all the police departments in the country. “After going through all the evidence, we decided to pursue only eight cases as there was sufficient proof to get him extradited,” said the CBI director.
The underworld don has been extradited in three cases of extortion registered by the Delhi police, two by Bombay police and three by the CBI.
Lawyers of Abu Salem, who is currently in Bombay police remand, have alleged that the don was being tortured by the police. They have filed an application saying Abu Salem had a sleepless night and was threatened by police that he would be killed in an encounter.
Police have denied the allegations. They say Abu Salem was taken for a medical examination on Thursday and on Friday. Both medical reports say he is clinically fine and that his blood pressure and pulse rates were normal.
A special court hearing builder Pradeep Jain’s murder case in Bombay, will record the statement of Abu Salem on allegations that he was tortured in police custody.
