Portugal's SC moved against termination of Salem's extradition

New Delhi, Oct 4 (PTI) India has approached Portugal's
Supreme Court challenging its High Court order which had
terminated the extradition of underworld don Abu Salem for
breach of agreement by India by slapping charges which attract
death penalty.
India, in its appeal before the Portuguese Supreme Court,
has said the interpretation of the High Court of the trial in
various courts of the country was not correct.
In its affidavit, India has assured that the fresh
charges levelled against Salem, a key accused in the 1993
Mumbai blasts case, attracted less jail term than the offences
for which he had been extradited, official sources said here
on Tuesday.
In its plea, which will soon come up for hearing, India
has asked for a stay on the Portuguese High Court order, the
sources said.
Lisbon High Court had on September 19 allowed the plea of
the extradited gangster, being tried in eight criminal cases
including the 1993 Mumbai serial blasts, that he be sent back
to Portugal.
Salem, a gangster extradited from Portugal in November
2005, was charged with MCOCA for allegedly making extortion
calls to Delhi-based businessman Ashok Gupta in 2002,
demanding Rs five crore as protection money.
The Portuguese court had said that in view of the new
charges against Salem which entail death penalty, the
authorisation granted for his extradition has been terminated
as it violated the principle of speciality.
India had given an 'executive assurance' to Portugal that
Salem would not be given death penalty or charged with any
section of law which entails jail for more than 25 years, once
he is extradited.