Gangster Abu Salem opposes framing of extortion charges

“Now,the prosecution wants to frame charges under section 387 (putting a person in fear of life) of the IPC which prescribes maximum jail term of seven years,” he said before Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Kiran Bansal.

Salem,along with Romesh Sharma,alleged frontman of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim,has been booked for allegedly making threat calls to three Delhi-based businesspersons demanding money in 1998.

Public prosecutor Rajeev Mohan opposed Salem’s contention contending the fact that Salem was in active connivance with Romesh Sharma was sufficient to frame extortion charges against him.

The court has fixed the matter for order on chargeframing against Salem on December 15 and said the trial against Romesh and Salem be segregated.

A FIR was lodged at Hauz Khas police station in 1998 under 384 (extortion) and 120B (conspiracy) of IPC.

Salem,extradited from Portugal in 2005 to face trial in various cases including that of 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts,is facing trial along with Romesh on the charge of hatching a conspiracy to extort money from three persons based here.

The gangster has also sought bail on statutory grounds saying he has spent three years in jail,which is more than the prescribed punishment for the offence of extortion.

He was extradited in connection with Mumbai blasts,passport forgery cases in Lucknow and Hyderabad,three extortion cases and a conspiracy to murder in Delhi and Pradip Jain case in Mumbai.

Meanwhile,another Delhi court deferred the recording of evidence till December 15 against Salem and three others in a case lodged for making threat calls to businessman Rajat Nagrath,owner of Allied Communication,at East of Kailash here demanding Rs one crore in 2002.