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The Constitutional Court of Portugal has rejected the appeals
of Abu Salem against his extradition to India. Earlier, the
Supreme Court of Portugal has also rejected a similar appeal
of Abu Salem.
However, an additional request for his extradition made
in the case of Madhya Pradesh Police is pending consideration
in the High Court of Lisbon. Abu Salem, is an absconding accused
in the Serial Bomb Blast
Cases of 1993 and is a subject of Red Corner Notice issued
in 1995. Both Abu Salem and Monica Bedi were arrested in Lisbon
on the 18th Sept.'2002. The Government of Portugal asked for
their extradition request and
formal request for their extradition was submitted to the
Government of Portugal in 3 cases of CBI including Bombay
Bomb Blast cases, 4 cases of Delhi Police and 2 cases of Mumbai
Police (in case of Abu Salem). In the case of Monica Bedi,
extradition was sought in the case of Passport forgery of
Hyderabad. After prolonged hearing in which various points
were raised by the Counsel of Abu Salem, the High Court of
Lisbon granted
Abu Salem's extradition in July last year only for the charges
not punishable with death or life imprisonment. Subsequently
the public prosecutor at the instance of CBI appealed to the
Supreme Court of
Portugal against the order of High Court, which rejected his
extradition to the offences not punishable with death or life
imprisonment. Abu Salem also filed an appeal against the order
granting his extradition.
The Supreme Court of Portugal rejected the appeal of Abu Salem
but accepted the appeal of CBI and authorised extradition
of Abu Salem for all the crimes included in the extradition
request. Abu Salem subsequently filed an appeal against the
order of the Supreme Court in the Constitutional Court of
Portugal. The Constitutional Court of Portugal, on Monday,
rejected the appeal of Abu Salem. At the time of his detention,
Abu Salem was found in possession of fake travel documents.
He was holding a Pakistani passport in the name of Arsalan
Mohsin Ali. However, his finger prints available in CBI fixed
his identity. He was prosecuted for the offence of using forged
documents and was convicted by the Sessions Court, Lisbon
and sentenced to 4-1/2 years imprisonment on 12.11.2003 and
he continues to be in detention.
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