Gangster appeals in the same vein as the cops regarding MCOCA charges
Gangster appeals in the same vein as the cops regarding MCOCA charges
Extradited don Abu Salem wants the court to ratify a plea by Delhi police.
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Listen to me: Abu Salem
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Sounds strange though but the man charged with murdering music baron Gulshan Kumar has pleaded before the Delhi High Court to drop charges against him under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crimes Act (MCOCA) in a 2002 extortion case. The Delhi Police had made a similar plea to a local court in August this year but was rejected. Counsel for Salem Arvind Shukla contended that the gangster couldn't be charged under sections other than those mentioned in his extradition order.
"We have mainly relied on the extradition order in which it was clearly stated that Salem cannot be charged with any other charges except those mentioned in the treaty between India and Portugal," Shukla said in his petition.
The central government had asked Delhi Police to approach the city court for dropping the MCOCA charges after Salem moved the Portuguese apex court alleging that Indian authorities were contravening the extradition terms.
Salem, extradited from Portugal in 2005, was booked under the MCOCA for allegedly making extortion calls to Delhi-based businessman Ashok Gupta in 2002, demanding Rs. 50 million. The court is likely to hear his plea next week.
Meanwhile, Salem had also approached Portugal's Supreme Court with a complaint that India was violating the extradition treaty by invoking the stringent MCOCA to frame charges against him.
